Benedict Cumberbatch confirms 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' will shoot this year

Marvel sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is due to begin shooting in the next few months, according to star Benedict Cumberbatch.

Sam Raimi will helm the movie — his first superhero outing since Spider-Man 3 in 2007 — after replacing the first film’s director, Scott Derrickson, earlier this year.

Cumberbatch told Watch Time India that the movie is being prepped now, with cameras set to roll before the year is out.

Read more: Ejiofor says Raimi is perfect for Doctor Strange 2

“I’m in pre-production with the second Doctor Strange film, which is very exciting,” said the 44-year-old.

He added: “We will start filming in late October or early November.”

With horror specialist Raimi at the helm and the world “multiverse” in the title, many have speculated that this could be one of the more unconventional movies in Marvel’s Phase Four.

Chiwetel Ejiofor will join Cumberbatch as the returning — and now considerably darker — Baron Mordo, while Elizabeth Olsen is set to make an appearance as Scarlet Witch.

Read more: Trailer for WandaVision creates plenty of questions

The presence of Olsen in the movie has Marvel fans suggesting that Disney+ series WandaVision could provide clues to the plot of the Doctor Strange sequel.

Marvel is certainly on the verge of bringing in a true multiverse, and it seems as if Wanda Maximoff might be the key to it all.

The first Doctor Strange film made $678m (£524m) at the global box office and introduced the Time Stone, which played a crucial role in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

Cumberbatch reprised his part in both of those movies, helping the Avengers in the fight against Thanos.

Read more: Cumberbatch to get Walk of Fame star in 2021

Marvel release dates have shuffled on multiple occasions since the coronavirus pandemic hit, with Doctor Strange currently set for March 2022.

Watch: Cumberbatch surprises comic store in Doctor Strange costume