Scott Derrickson has dropped out of directing Marvel’s upcoming “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesss” film, Variety reports.
What happened: Marvel confirmed the decision in a statement, saying it was over “creative differences.”
- Marvel (via Variety): “Marvel Studios and Scott Derrickson have amicably parted ways on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ due to creative differences. We remain grateful to Scott for his contributions to the MCU.”
- Derrickson tweeted: “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.”
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
- The film’s production starts in May. No delays are expected. Marvel will search for a replacement in the meantime.
Reaction: Social media immediately began speculating about why Derrickson, who wrote and directed the first “Doctor Strange,” would drop out of the film.
- Much of the discourse suggested Derrickson — writer and director of horror films “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” and “Sinister” — wanted to create a full-fledged horror film. But Marvel wanted to go a safer route.
This bums me out. I worry Marvel is becoming complacent in their films. At one point they let filmmakers experiment with genres, and quickly abandoned it. Can’t wait to see what @scottderrickson and @Massawyrm do next! https://t.co/C4Pf2Dbpwc via @ew
— J. - Morsels is LIVE! - Donohue (@JMichaelDonohue) January 10, 2020
I wonder if this is over the rating.
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) January 10, 2020
At #SDCC, Scott Derrickson was super excited to emphasize that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would be a "scary" Marvel movie. Feige immediately interjected and said, "It's gonna be PG-13 and you're gonna like it."
Hmm...
Scott Derrickson: Hey I wanna make Doctor Strange 2 kind of unique and not like literally every other Marvel movie
— salt™🌹 (@realsalt_) January 10, 2020
Kevin Feige: pic.twitter.com/2L53VZ3C5g
Scott Derrickson: This will be a horror superhero film.
— PokyGem (@PokyGem023) January 10, 2020
Kevin Feige: It will not.
Scott: https://t.co/9t1X5mWF9V
Flashback: Derrickson said at San Diego Comic-Con that he wanted to create a film with horror elements, according to ComicBook.com.
- “If I’m gonna do it, it has to go into the territory that drew me into the Doctor Strange comics in the first place, which is how they dipped into the gothic and the horror and the horrific, and we’re gonna make the first scary MCU film.”
- Derrickson previously called the “Doctor Strange” sequel a “horror film.”
- But Marvel Cinematic Universe boss Kevin Feige walked back those comments about a week ago, saying it was inaccurate to label it that way, according to ComicBook.com.