At one point following 2007’s Spider-Man 3, director Sam Raimi didn’t think that he could ever get back to the superhero saddle. Apparently, the director was thoroughly shocked by the negative reaction he received for his 2007 movie. Considering the wound still raw, Raimi was initially hesitant to further engage with the MCU for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Despite being credited for his initiative to bring Spider-Man to the theatres, Sam Raimi revealed during an interview with Collider, that he never planned to make another Marvel movie after his 2007’s Spider-Man 3. Taken aback by the negativity and hate comments on his third installment of Spider-Man, Raimi claimed to be unsure about his return to Marvel.
Sam Raimi Was Hesitant To Return To Marvel
After Sam Raimi turned the teenage web-slinger into a live-action superhero, the director was hailed by his fans, globally. However, his grandeur only lasted for a while, as Raimi was later slammed following the release of 2007’s Spider-Man 3. The director was heavily criticized and faced immense negativity from fans, even though the movie was a box office hit with a worldwide turnout of over $894 million.
Thus, Raimi promised to never return to the superhero saddle, until he was brought back for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, considering the amount of hatred he faced during his last MCU movie, the director claimed to be initially hesitant to return. During an interview with Collider, Sam Raimi discussed what stopped him from jumping right into the Doctor Strange project.
“I didn’t know that I could face it again because it was so awful, having been the director of Spider-Man 3. The Internet was getting revved up and people disliked that movie and they sure let me know about it. So, it was difficult to take back on.”
However, when he learned about the opening for the Doctor Strange sequel, Sam Raimi mentioned “I thought, ‘I wonder if I could still do it.’”. Further, the director discussed what eventually drove him to take on the movie.
“They’re really demanding, those types of pictures. And I felt, ‘Well, that’s reason enough.’ I’ve always really liked the character of Doctor Strange… I didn’t think I would be doing another superhero movie. It just happened.”
Sam Raimi Has Some Issue With Marvel Sequels
Irrespective of initial hesitation, Sam Raimi eventually gathered his courage to take on the directorial responsibility for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Filling in the shoes of Scott Derrickson, and being inspired by his first installment, Raimi gave the sequel a try. However, this time it turned out to be worse.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended up suffering one of the worst drops in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen, Raimi’s movie faced a disappointing fate despite the buzz around the Sorcerer Supreme, from the prequel.
Sam Raimi’s 2022 movie, although had a hot opening, it later suffered a disappointing second weekend. Falling far short of expectations, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness turned into a cinematic catastrophe. And yet, after two nearly disappointing sequels, Raimi is reportedly being eyed as the top choice for Avengers 6.
Watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+.
Source: Collider
