The two credits scenes of Doctor Strange 2 explained

Doctor Strange’s latest adventure is here, and like all Marvel films, it has many setups for where the series could go next. While most of these happen over the course of Stephen Strange’s journey through the multiverse, the film saves the biggest for the credits.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has two end credits scenes, one that happens in the middle and one that comes after the credits have rolled. In case you’re pressed for time, only the first teaser of the film seems relevant to the broader MCU story, but the second one is definitely worth staying here as well.

[Ed. note: This story contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.]

Image: Marvel Studios

The mid-credits scene begins with Doctor Strange walking down the street after his third eye opens in the film’s final scene when he is suddenly interrupted by a new interdimensional traveler.

The woman does not introduce herself, but in the film’s credits she is credited as “Clea,” played by Charlize Theron. In the Marvel Comics universe, Clea is Stephen Strange’s recurring wife and fellow adventurer – the closest thing he has to a regular love interest. Hailing from an entirely different dimension, she is also a sorceress of great repute, and following Stephen’s recent death in the comics, she is currently the Sorcerer Supreme.

Clea tells Stephen that he caused a robbery and that they need to fix things. When she asks if he’s ready to go, his third eye opens, he says he’s ready, and they hop through the portal she opened.

Clea’s comic origin story is a little complicated, especially for the film version of Stephen. Her father is Prince Orini, a former ruler of the Dark Dimension and a loyal servant of Dormammu, whom Strange defeated in his first solo MCU film. It’s unclear what Clea’s MCU origins will be or what her power set might involve, but at least we do know that she can teleport between seemingly different dimensions – a power that would match the comics’ version of the character.

The film’s other teaser scene at the very end of the credits takes us back to Earth 838, the world of the Illuminati, and the story of the pizza guy played by Bruce Campbell. Finally, after apparently weeks of punching himself in the face, Campbell’s character regains control of his limbs. After celebrating the fact that he’s no longer beating himself up, he looks into the camera and yells, “It’s over!” Giving the film one final gag to let the audience know to leave the theater .

While the Clea scene is clearly a foretaste of Doctor Strange’s next MCU adventure, it’s almost impossible to say exactly what that might mean. After all, in an infinite multiverse there are also infinite possibilities for sequels.