New Marvel Trailers: Multiverse of Madness and Moon Knight
This past weekend, during the 2022 Super Bowl, Marvel debuted a new TV spot for Moon Knight as well as the official trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Both gave MCU fans plenty to get excited about when it comes to Marvel’s upcoming releases.
Moon Knight will premiere on March 30 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be in theaters on May 6. Let’s take a closer look at what we know so far about each, and what mind-bending possibilities have been revealed.
Moon Knight TV Spot
As Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘n’ Nite” plays in the background, this new TV spot shows Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) confronting the increasing confusion in his life. He’s hearing voices, grappling with being called Marc Spector, and is somehow linked to a masked vigilante in white body wrappings with crescent-shaped darts. That’s a lot to take in.
Meanwhile, Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) steps in as a guide to Steven in his struggle to balance the day and knight in his life. He somehow knows about the voices in Steven’s head and appears to be offering help in controlling them. We also see glimpses of the pyramids, a scale tattoo that rocks back and forth atop someone’s skin, and a temple ritual with a column of purple energy.
Arthur Harrow: Friend or Foe?
In the comics, Dr. Arthur Harrow is an exiled, Nobel-nominated scientist whose work centered on pain theory. The ethics of his experiments, however, were brought into question and it’s revealed that he uses humans in his trials. Dr. Harrow is also associated with a nefarious group known only as O.M.N.I.U.M. In the Disney+ series, the late Gaspard Ulliel will also appear as Midnight Man, an enemy of Moon Knight.
What remains to be seen is whether this MCU Arthur can actually be trusted — especially since Steven (or is it Marc?) doesn’t even know if he can trust himself. Arthur tells him, “There’s chaos in you. Embrace it.” The chaos of Khonshu will be unleashed on March 30.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Trailer
Though footage of this film was first revealed during the post-credits scenes of Spider-Man: No Way Home, this official trailer brings new information to light. And here’s the thing: Marc Spector might have thought he was facing chaos in his situation, but the utter chaos of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness absolutely takes the prize for mind-bending teases.
A voiceover from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) shares the recurring dream that haunts him — visions of a corrupted, disintegrating Sanctum Sanctorum, attacks against his fellow sorcerers, a shattered Eye of Agamotto, and finally a captured figure screaming for her life. However, when Strange wakes up, the real nightmare begins.
Shattered Reality
Despite Wong’s warnings, Strange has tampered with reality. Now, the multiverse is collapsing in on itself. Kamar-Taj is under attack, Shuma-Gorath is terrorizing the streets of NYC, and Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has returned. There appears to be a sinister version of Strange running around as well, eerily similar to the version of the Sorcerer Supreme that we saw in episode four of Marvel’s What If…? Plus, a new super hero unfamiliar to Strange, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), is also traveling between dimensions. Desperate to correct his mistakes, Strange seeks the advice of someone else who knows about altering reality: the Scarlet Witch.
While at first Wanda (Elizabeth Olson) seems to be open to helping Strange, she later says, “You break the rules … and become the hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn’t seem fair.” As she says this, we see Wanda revisiting a past version of herself, and later her hand is outstretched as if she’s making an important decision with her power.
The Illuminati
Further complicating matters is a mysterious voice in the background of the trailer. We hear it when Doctor Strange is apprehended and brought before a council. “We should tell him the truth,” says the voice. Though nothing is officially confirmed, the voice appears to belong to Patrick Stewart, who played Professor Charles Xavier in previous X-Men films.
While at this point, the meaning of this pivotal segment of the trailer is not known for sure, a few conclusions can be drawn. If the voice does belong to Stewart and it is Professor X in this scene, then it’s possible that Doctor Strange is being brought before the Illuminati. Speculation surrounding the MCU debut of Namor in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also points to the Illuminati.
In the comics, the Illuminati is a secret council originally composed of Professor X, Namor, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and later Black Panther. Others have come and gone in the group but throughout all of Marvel comics history, this group has covertly worked behind the scenes to pull the strings. Its inclusion in the MCU could potentially redefine everything that we have seen so far on the big screen.
With the releases of Moon Knight and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming up soon, Phase Four of the MCU continues to challenge our perception of what’s possible in super hero media.
Did you notice any new surprises or hidden secrets in the newest Marvel trailers? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!