Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced us to an exciting new character from the Marvel Universe. In the post-credits scene, we meet Charlize Theron’s Clea. In the comic books, Doctor Clea Strange is a powerful sorceress, a ruler of the Dark Dimension, and the wife of Doctor Strange. During the course of their relationship, Doctor Strange saves Clea from her uncle, the tyrant Dormammu, and from her mother, Umar, numerous times.
The two embark on many adventures together, with Clea even eventually accompanying Doctor Strange to Earth. However, her heart was always in the Dark Dimension, and Strange had difficulty returning her feelings. Nonetheless, the two were very much in love and always had a way of finding each other again. Upon his death, Strange regretted that he had ever let Clea go and bestowed on her the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) love life has primarily focused on Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). Whereas Clea is Doctor Strange’s tie to the Dark Dimension, Palmer is Strange’s tie to normal life and earth. In the first Doctor Strange film, the two broke up and chose to just be friends. Doctor Strange 2 follows up on this bittersweet situation, with the two acknowledging feelings for each other, but also accepting that they were not meant to be together (in seemingly any universe). With Strange having made peace with Palmer, it may open up room for a new love interest.
Is Clea the new love interest for Doctor Strange?
Doctor Strange 2‘s writer, Michael Waldron, has confirmed that Clea is the new love interest. In speaking with Gizmodo, Waldron explained that their introduction to Clea was carefully planned specifically so the love story could play out. Previously, Strange was simply not ready for a new love interest. In the first film, he was not yet the Sorcerer Supreme and needed an earthly love interest. In Doctor Strange 2, while that relationship was over, it was clear that Strange still hadn’t closed that chapter completely. By the end of the film, though, he is ready to meet the actual love of his life. Check out Waldron’s statement below:
We knew that we wanted to introduce Clea. She’s Strange’s great love in the comics and it felt to me like Strange wasn’t at the point at the start of our movie where he was ready to meet the love of his life. It felt like we had to close the loop with he and Christine Palmer. And so, after she gives him her wisdom to not be afraid of loving someone, then it felt like we were right to tease what could be eventually with he and Clea.
Hence, it does very much seem that Clea will become Strange’s new love interest. Not only that, but the MCU has been carefully building up to this moment to introduce Clea. Doctor Strange 2 is largely a story of self-discovery for Strange. As he comes up against his biggest foe yet, he has to decide the nature of who he is. Is he the one who plays by the rules or does he risk the chance of being corrupted and villainized to do what’s right? Would he sacrifice a child to save the rest of the world? Can he let go of Christine?
By the end of Doctor Strange 2, Strange is an entirely new person. He has read the Darkhold, become a more powerful sorcerer, and made difficult choices about who he really is. Not only is he ready to fall in love, but he’s now ready to contend with a powerful sorceress in the Dark Dimension. He is open to both love and adventure, making this the perfect moment to debut his new love interest.
(featured image: Lee Garbett)
