"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is almost ready to premiere on Disney+ (Disney Plus). On Thursday, the streaming platform revealed that the sequel to "Doctor Strange," starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen, will be available on June 22.
It should be noted that the season finale of the Star Wars series "Obi-Wan Kenobi," as well as Episode 3 of "Ms. Marvel," are both scheduled for June 22 on Disney+, as per the news report of The Direct.
The Sequel to 'Doctor Strange' Is Coming Sooner Than Expected
The film, directed by Sam Raimi, will be available for streaming a month earlier than intended. The sequel was expected to appear in July, based on prior Marvel movie streaming releases, CNET reported.
This means the film will have a 47-day exclusive theatrical run, shattering the MCU record of 68 days set by "Eternals" for the shortest time between a Marvel Studios film's theatrical release date and its streaming debut. "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," for example, premiered on the big screen in the U.S. on Sep. 3, 2021, and was then released on Disney+ on Nov. 12, 2021, a gap of exactly 70 days between the two dates, according to The Direct.
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Due to COVID-19, "Black Widow," the first film in the MCU's Phase 4, was in a different circumstance. It was released in theaters on July 9, 2021, but it was also accessible to stream the same day through the platform's Premier Access feature, which cost $30 and made the film available for 24 hours after purchasing. On Oct. 6, 2021, 90 days after its initial release, Premier Access was removed and the film was made available to stream for free.
But the good thing for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is that you will not be charged anything extra to watch it on top of your Disney+ subscription.
Why Is 'Doctor Strange 2' Being Released So Quickly on Disney+?
Inverse noted that while it's odd that Disney+ released the sequel just two days after the theatrical release, it makes sense because it allows more people to watch (or rewatch) "Multiverse of Madness" before the next MCU film, "Thor: Love and Thunder," hits theaters on July 8.
The Direct, on the other hand, held that the film will only have a 47-day exclusive run in theaters for numerous reasons. Disney continues to place priority on its streaming service, Disney+, which it sees as the cornerstone of its entertainment media future. Providing blockbuster content like "Multiverse of Madness" to Disney+ subscribers while it's still semi-fresh in the pop culture conversation helps retain users who may be unsure about the worth of their subscription.
The other possibility is related to ticket sales. The first week a film is released in theaters is when it makes the most money. If "Doctor Strange 2" is still only accessible in cinemas, casual moviegoers who have yet to see it may be more tempted to do so before seeing "Love and Thunder," The Direct noted.
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