Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson has officially announced on his Twitter account that he will be exiting Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness over creative differences with the studio over the project, however, will remain the film’s executive producer.
Filming was expected to being this spring/summer at Pinewood Studios UK in England.
Marvel and I have mutually agreed to part ways on Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences. I am thankful for our collaboration and will remain on as EP.
— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) January 10, 2020
Variety first reported the exit.
Reports suggest they’ll keep on track to begin filming in May and keep that May 7th, 2021 release date.
Kevin Feige had recently revealed that Disney+ shows such as WandaVision and Loki would help lead into the Doctor Strange sequel, possibly as both those hard-canon MCU shows are expected to tackle the Multiverse.
Derrickson and Feige announced at San Diego Comic-Con last summer that the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse would feature Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch alongside Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and was talked-up as the MCU’s first scary film.
Marvel Studios isn’t a stranger to losing directors ahead of production as Patty Jenkins (Thor: The Dark World) and Edgar Wright (Ant-Man) had previously exited projects over similar creative differences. They also recently fired James Gunn from Guardians of The Galaxy 3, only to rehire him.
The studio keeps things rolling as it’s a well-oiled-machine and we should start hearing potential replacements very soon.
I’d personally love to see them consider Ari Aster, who was behind Midsommar and Hereditary. They’re certainly going to need someone interesting to take over from Derrickson.
Another cool suggestion I heard was Mandy director Panos Cosmatos.
SOURCE: SCOTT DERRICKSON
