Patrick Stewart Calls Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Filming ‘Frustrating and Disappointing’

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Spoiler Warning: The following article features spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Professor X actor Patrick Stewart has called his experience filming for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness “frustrating and disappointing”, though may still return to the character for the upcoming Deadpool 3.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stewart was asked to confirm if he, like some other actors filming for the Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, were actually interacting with their colleagues or just playing the part solo.

“It was alone,” Stewart said, shaking his head. “I think the big scene, each one of the leading actors had the same experience. They were shot on their own. It was a frustrating and disappointing but that’s how it has been. The last few years have been challenging.”

The “big scene” Stewart references saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange appeal to the Illuminati for help, which in this multiverse was made up from the likes of Stewart’s Professor X, John Krasinski’s Mr Fantastic, Lashana Lynch’s Captain Marvel, Hayley Atwell’s Captain Britain, and more. Each member of the Illuminati was then cut down by a savage Scarlet Witch, played by Elizabeth Olsen.

Despite the poor experience, Stewart admitted conversations were happening surrounding Deadpool 3, the upcoming Marvel entry starring Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and seemingly a lot more of the characters from the X-Men films.

Stewart was first asked if he knew how many times Professor X had died in his eight film appearances before laughing at the answer: four, meaning a 50% death rate. “I don’t know [what that implies],” he laughed. “But I do now have every confidence that he’s still around.”

A potential appearance in Deadpool 3 was then raised. “It has come up,” Stewart said. “There’s been a process. But the last two or three years have been so difficult with the labour problems and the health problems, and Covid.”

Alongside its two leads in Reynolds and Jackman, Deadpool 3 will also reportedly feature Sabretooth, Toad, and more. The film will premiere on July 26, 2024 as the only Marvel film of the year, as both Captain America: Brave New World (previously dated for July 26, 2024) and Thunderbolts (previously dated for December 20, 2024) have been pushed into 2025.

Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Vox Media

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.