“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesse” finally hits theaters. On this occasion and as part of a round table with international journalists, we had the privilege of interviewing its director Sam Raimi who explained, among other things, his return to the “Marvel Cinematic Universe”.
Presented as a new feature film that differs from other “Marvel”, the new “Doctor Strange” has a darker approach and more tragic ordeals will still be to go through…
Everyone knows you’re the man behind “Spider-man”, and that’s what you’re known for. And there you directed “Doctor Strange”. What was it like coming back to the superhero genre 15 years later?
I wasn’t really nervous and anxious. It was like riding a bicycle. We don’t really forget how to make a film or tell a story. It comes naturally and it’s what I’ve worked for all my life. I feel like a carpenter. I have my skills that I apply and it was very comfortable.
Between the “MCU” of the time and the current one, are there any differences?
I think there are more similarities than differences. The technology has improved a lot, that’s the main difference. We can all keep up to date in a much more efficient way on the current state of the set construction, the script, the casting or the editing. There are many more connections than before. Visual effects are much easier to achieve today than 20 years ago. But the main tasks remain the same. Identify the heart of the character we care regarding, his humanity or his flaws. Hence the drama of this particular character.
What do you think Mrs. Olsen brings to the film and to her character?
Good question. She is truly remarkable as an actress. She’s ready to give it her all with every take. And this role was very emotionally demanding. She is able to define subtleties and dramatize them in a very realistic way. I remember in one scene, I asked her to do it once more very often and I started to worry that I would exhaust her because she was so invested. I went to see her and explained to her that if I asked her too much regarding these variations and this scene, she had to say so. She replied that as an actress, she is a bottomless pit and that she will give me what I need. And there, I realized that she had taken a lot of pressure off me. So we resumed filming and at that point I was very grateful and impressed with her depth and acting attitude.
For you, does the character of “Strange” open up something new in the “Marvel” universe?
I think Benedict Cumberbatch and his 1st director Scott Derrickson created something unique with this character. It was exciting that they put undesirable characteristics in the human being. When I made the first three “Spider-man” films, I really wanted it to have negative qualities, like arrogance or youthful ignorance. But “Doctor Strange” is a very audacious example of creators, actors, directors working together to create an adult who has real flaws. Like excessive pride or too much ego. So I think it’s very bold that it has its flaws and it allows for interesting stories. It is complex and our story is that of a person who takes a very small step towards humility. But that’s what the multiverse is, following all, a chance to look at yourself, to change your version of yourself.
For a feature film of this magnitude, what was the easiest scene to shoot?
The easiest part of the film… The most complex part was the post-production. Each part was really difficult actually because there are so many elements. I know that’s the opposite of what you’re asking. Just let me think a little more. Probably in editing, where I don’t have to manage so many units at once. Editing is a process unique to cinema. All other aspects of films exist on their own, such as photography. But editing is what is unique in cinema, this juxtaposition of elements. And it’s a very heartwarming moment for me, where I’m not in the middle of filming. I can sit down, manipulate, experiment and really enjoy the process of making it. I think that was the most relaxing and easiest part for me.
Were there elements from the 1st “Doctor Strange”, “Marvel” films, or your “Spider-man” trilogy that you wanted to incorporate into this film?
Yes, I loved in the first “Doctor Strange”, the elements of oriental mysticism that Scott Derrickson and the writers were able to integrate, and I really wanted to put it in this film. But it turns out I mightn’t. I also wanted to explore more deeply the character that Benedict Cumberbatch and Scott Derrickson had created. Sequels are more capable of this. And I hope that’s what we did. But I didn’t really want to bring elements from the first three “Spider-man”. They were great experiences, and I really enjoyed them, but I didn’t think regarding them when I was working on this film. I was more thinking regarding what the “Marvel” characters had done before, what I had seen, and how to move them forward.
There seems to be a growing fascination with time lines and universes. Why do you think this is the case?
I don’t know why there is this fascination. Maybe it’s because we live in a multiverse with the internet, seeing different versions of reality, different sections of propaganda like the war in Ukraine or simultaneous truths. We are able to see a lot of things that have happened on the internet. I think we live in a sort of multiverse today. And maybe the appeal of this genre is to see it applied to the things that we really appreciate in our world of entertainment. But as far as alternate timelines go, I don’t know the answer.
Finally, and in your opinion, might current human issues have a relationship with this film?
As long as the directors were careful to put a human character at the center of the story, with aspirations we can relate to and vulnerabilities we can relate to as real, fallible human beings, then I think that can create a bond with the viewer. And as long as the journey they take, however small, is relatable and understandable to the viewer, it can have a huge impact. And no matter how big the canvas or how fancy this story is, as long as there’s a beating human heart, I think it can be a great and meaningful story for the viewer.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
USA – 2021 – Action
Director: Sam Raimi
Acteur: Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong…
Disney
04.05.2022 at the cinema
This interview was conducted as part of a round table with journalists from around the world: not all questions belong to Daily Movies.