Earlier this year, it was announced that Scott Derrickson, Director of the 2016 film, Doctor Strange, was stepping down from directing the film’s sequel. In a joint statement to Variety, Marvel stated that they and Derrickson “…have amicably parted ways on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences.”

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

Scott Dickerson echoed that same statement on his Twitter account while also confirming that he would stay on as Executive Producer for the film. A few days later, he would also tweet his approval of the choice of Sam Raimi as his replacement on the film.

I’ve worked with Sam Raimi. One of the nicest people I’ve known in the film business, and as a director, a true living legend. What a great choice to take over Doctor Strange.

— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) February 6, 2020

Up until this point, this was the only acknowledgment of Raimi taking the reigns on the project, that is, until now. While promoting his new Quibi series, 50 States of Fright, Sam Raimi went on to discuss his involvement with the Doctor Strange sequel and the coincidental tie it had to his previous superhero film.

For those who are unfamiliar, Raimi was at the helm of all three Spider-Man films in the early 2000s, and there was even a mention of Doctor Strange in the film’s sequel. In an interview with ComingSoon.com, Raimi spoke about this reference as well as his admiration for Doctor Strange:

“I loved Doctor Strange as a kid, but he was always after Spider-Man and Batman for me, he was probably at number five for me of great comic book characters,” Raimi described. “He was so original, but when we had that moment in Spider-Man 2 I had no idea that we would ever be making a Doctor Strange movie, so it was really funny to me that coincidentally that line was in the movie. I gotta say I wish we had the foresight to know that I was going to be involved in the project.”

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is said to hit theaters on November 5, 2021. We will be sure to keep you updated here at WDWNT if that changes!