Doctor Strange 2 has not even been released but it has already earned $42 million. How? By selling the tickets in advance. The film will release on May 6th, following multiple delays due to the COVID-19. Sam Raimi is taking over the role of Scott Derrickson as director. Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen reprise their roles as the titular sorcerer and Scarlet Witch, respectively.
Earlier this month, the tickets were available for advance purchase. They’ve been flying off the shelves since then. Tony Chambers, Disney’s theatrical distribution manager, informed delegates at CinemaCon that advance ticket sales for the Marvel film have reached $42 million. The film’s ticket pre-sales established a year-to-date record on Fandango in its first 24 hours, surpassing The Batman.
Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez is making her MCU debut
Furthermore, the sequel to Doctor Strange is at the top of Fandango’s list of the most anticipated summer films. With so much hype, it’s surprising that Doctor Strange 2 is only expected to gross around $150 million in its first weekend. This film isn’t merely a sequel but it has threads connected to multiple movies. It also continues the multiverse narratives of Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Wanda Maximoff’s story arc from WandaVision will continue in Doctor Strange. The Scarlet Witch was last seen reading the Darkhold in a post-credits sequence. Therefore she may play a villainous role in the Multiverse of Madness.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Rachel McAdams reprise their roles from the first film. They were portraying the role of Karl Mordo, Wong, and Christine Palmer, respectively. America Chavez is a teenager from another reality who can travel between realities. Xochitl Gomez plays that role. This also makes her MCU debut.