It turns out that no, the original ending to 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' wasn't as rose-scented as we saw on our screens this summer - in fact, it was much darker. *Spoilers for the most recent MCU release below*
We all love an evil laugh when it's done right, and one of the original and probably most well-recognised is that of a late horror legend. Fans of Vincent Price might be disappointed to hear that his iconic laugh would have featured in an alternative ending of 'Doctor Strange 2', but instead, we got a much more light and breezy ending to the blockbuster.
In case his name isn't instantly recognisable to you, Price is the chilling laughter that we hear during the closing bars of Michael Jackson's Halloween bop, 'Thriller'.
Price also voiced some 'Scooby-Doo' episodes back in the '80s, voicing a character that was based on Doctor Strange. Vincent Van Ghoul was a magician who also loved anything supernatural-related and helped the Mystery Inc. gang on a number of their quests.
The Sam Raimi-helmed Marvel blockbuster would have incorporated the horror icon's trademark laugh into the film's much darker alternative ending, according to screenwriter Michael Waldron. During the third act of the film, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorceror visits another universe where he meets an alternative and altogether much more sinister version of himself, rightfully called Sinister Strange.
While the final cut of the film that we saw in theatres sees Strange make his way back to New York City in one piece, this alternative ending would have seen the more menacing version of the beloved Marvel character replace the original one that we know. Waldron explains: "Strange gets trapped in that [incursion] universe. And then [Sinister Strange] turns around, and the third eye opens."
Cue the chilling Vincent Price laugh, much like the reveal at the end of the 'Thriller' music video, and there we have a very different ending to 'Doctor Strange 2'. Although it seems much darker, this alternative ending does fall more traditionally in line with Raimi's cheesy/horror vision.
We might not have seen this more horrifying ending to the film, but we did get treated to a surprise cameo appearance in the form of Charlize Theron as Clea, who in the comic books is the niece of Dormammu, the cosmic entity and destroyer of worlds that Strange encountered in his first solo outing. Plus, Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda/Scarlett Witch is believed to have lived, so we've got her reappearance to look forward to in the future.
The next MCU film 'Thor: Love and Thunder' hits cinemas on July 7.
Watch 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' on Disney+.
