One of Marvel’s most powerful villains might have already been set up in theMCUthanks to a cameo appearance inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. After originalDoctor Strangedirector Scott Derrickson left the production of the sequel, Marvel veteran Sam Raimi was hired to direct Phase 4’sMultiverse of Madness. Raimi infused the movie with his trademark horror trademarks, while keeping in line with the MCU’s family-friendly tone, and he also included some of his best filmmaking techniques andEaster eggs inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Following on from the events ofWandaVisionandSpider-Man: No Way Home,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesssaw the titular Master of the Mystic Arts and MCU newcomer America Chavez travel across the multiverse, being hunted by the Scarlet Witch. They found themselves onEarth-838 in a version of New Yorkprotected by the superpowered Illuminati, but before coming face-to-face with this new team, they crossed paths withBruce Campbell’s Pizza Poppa. Now, Campbell has teased a more significant role for his mysterious MCU character.
Bruce Campbell Has Teased A Larger Role For His Marvel Character
Bruce Campbell Has Cameo Appearances In Many Sam Raimi Movies
Since making his feature film debut in Sam Raimi’s 1977 crime flick,It’s Murder!,Bruce Campbell and Raimi have been frequent collaborators. Campbell is perhaps best known for his role of Ash Williams in Raimi’sTheEvil Deadfranchise, though he has also had appearances in several other Raimi movies, including Sony’sSpider-Mantrilogy, which starred Tobey Maguire as the titular wall-crawler.Campbell portrayed different characters in each of Raimi’sSpider-Manmovies, buthe has hinted at these characters actually being one-and-the-same, setting Campbell up for a bigger role in the MCU’s future.
In conversation withVariety(viaYouTube), Bruce Campbell has now seemingly confirmed that his Marvel characters are all connected. He has also suggested that he is set up for a huge role in the MCU’s future, given the fact that his contract forDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswas very thick and top secret.Campbell notes that all his characters have interfered in the lives of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, getting them where they need to be or indirectly saving their lives, which could hint at exactly who he might actually be playing.
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In 2002’sSpider-Man, Bruce Campbell portrayed the Ring Announcer who originally gifted Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker his Spider-Man moniker, as Parker was ready to fight as the Human Spider. 2004’sSpider-Man 2saw Campbell play a Snooty Usher who stopped Peter Parker from seeing Mary Jane Watson perform, driving more of a wedge between them.Spider-Man 3in 2007 marked Campbell’s appearance as a French maître d' who helps Parker plan his proposal.Multiverse of Madness’Pizza Poppa, as suggested by Campbell, delayed Doctor Strange for some as-yet-unknown reason, potentially saving his life from something unseen.
Why Bruce Campbell Would Be Perfect As The MCU’s Beyonder
The Beyonder Is One Of Marvel’s Most Powerful Villains
The idea of Bruce Campbell’s Marvel characters all being the same person suggests that he has been playing someone with incredible powers since his 2002 debut, seemingly even someone with multiversal abilities. This bears some resemblance to theBeyonder from Marvel Comics. First seen in 1984’sSecret Wars #1,the Beyonder was originally depicted as a nigh-omnipotent being from outside the multiverse who became interested in the lives of heroes and villains on Earth. He initially plucked them from Earth and brought them to Battleworld to have them fight for his enjoyment.
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Following 1984’sSecret Warsevent, the Beyonder was explored in more detail, especially in the sequel, 1985’sSecret Wars II. In this story, the Beyonder takes the form of a human in an effort to learn about humanity, greed, money and desire.The Beyonder soon threatens to destroy the entire multiverse out of frustration, but finds himself opposed by a huge group of heroes, with him eventually being defeated by the Molecule Man. In the lead-up to2015’sSecret Wars, the Beyonder was confirmed to be a child of the Beyonders species.
The Beyonder has demonstrated his fascination with humanity time and again since his debut in 1984, and he spent a huge amount of time on Earth learning the ways of humanity. This would clearly explain Bruce Campbell’s Marvel character being involved in the lives of several heroes and existing in several different realities.Bruce Campbell’s playfulness, curiosity, charisma and intensity would fit the Beyonder perfectly, and it would be great to see his established Marvel characters officially tied together and explained. This reveal could be huge forMarvel Studios' upcomingAvengers: Secret Wars.
The Beyonder May Be Crucial To Avengers: Secret Wars
The Beyonder & His Species Play A Huge Role In Both Of Marvel Comics' Secret Wars Events
During Marvel Comics’Time Runs Outevent, which was explored in Jonathan Hickman’sAvengersandNew Avengersruns prior to 2015’sSecret Wars, the original Beyonder was confirmed to be part of a bigger, seemingly all-powerful species. TheBeyonders, otherwise known as the Ivory Kings, are extra-dimensional beings that were created by early Celestials to maintain the multiverse.The Beyonders have been heavily rumored to appear in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, as they kick-started the destructive incursions in Marvel Comicsthat eventually wiped out the multiverse.
The Beyonders are more powerful than practically any other Marvel character, which was proved when they were shown killing nearly every Celestial and even abstract entities such as Eternity, the Living Tribunal and Infinity, among many others.
It was the Beyonders' power that Doctor Doom absorbed to create Battleworld from the fragmented pieces of incursion-ruined universes.If this storyline is to be adapted faithfully by returning directors the Russo brothers, it would make sense for Bruce Campbell to be outed as the Beyonder. This could tie together over two decades of Marvel stories across various realities, and introduce a formidable new antagonist forRobert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doomto oppose inAvengers: Secret Wars, as well as giving new meaning to Bruce Campbell’s appearance inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
