Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was unquestionably one of the year's most anticipated films (and perhaps the most anticipated movie of the year). The Marvel Cinematic Universe film is the 28th in Marvel Studios' shared universe, and it has dominated the box office since its release.
Given the huge role of the multiverse in the film, it's no surprise that there are numerous important cameo appearances. However, it has since been discovered that James Bond actor Daniel Craig was almost cast in the picture as well. Did the actor really turn down that major cameo in the second installment of Doctor Strange?
Was Daniel Craig Set To Appear in 'Doctor Strange 2'?
When the new Marvel sequel Doctor Strange was released in theaters recently, there were a few unexpected surprises, and Daniel Craig was apparently almost one of them. Although there were cameo rumors circulating around the web, many key figures were introduced in the film, including a special appearance by the Illuminati, as was planned.
John Krasinski as Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four was one of the most shocking revelations. This was a thrilling moment for many fans since Krasinski has long been a fan favorite actor who many had hoped would be cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Fantastic Four reboot. However, there are indications that he was not the only actor who was up for that special cameo.
Deadline’s Justin Kroll revealed that John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic “wasn’t the first choice” for the special Illuminati cameo. Daniel Craig was originally slated to appear in that spot. It was claimed that the actor was set to shoot until a rise in COVID cases had gotten him to reconsider, so he backed out to avoid the risk of spreading the virus to his family.
Prior to Kroll’s comment, rumors had swirled that Daniel was also tapped to play Baldur the Brave, a character that was allegedly chosen to appear in the film as a member of the Illuminati as well. Unfortunately, he couldn’t shoot scenes which is why they replaced him with John Krasinski.
As Screenrant pointed out, the appearance of Reed Richards was a surprise in its own right, but using someone like Daniel Craig would have been a major shock considering his connection to the role was cleverly kept under wraps.
The news of the Bond actor’s potential cameo seemed to come out of left field, proving he hasn't been on the radar of MCU fans for legitimate roles. John, on the other hand, was still a pleasant surprise, but the payoff stemmed for those familiar with the fan-casting push.
What Are Fans’ Reactions To Daniel Craig Joining MCU?
In response to the news that Daniel almost made a cameo appearance in the film, digital artist Boss Logic took to social media to share his incredible artwork, imagining what the James Bond actor could have looked like as Reed Richards. The amazing work depicts Daniel donning the iconic blue and black uniform of the Fantastic Four.
One Twitter user commented, “I’ve been seeing this fan casting of Daniel Craig as Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic on here and I think it would be horrible casting…That being said if Daniel Craig should ever play a superhero it should be Micky Moran aka Mr. Miracle.”
It appears many didn’t like the thought of the actor being Mr. Fantastic. An MCU follower shared, “I don’t see Daniel Craig as being relatable as Reed Richards. He’s going to play everything way too seriously. It will be like watching ‘The Batman’ of Marvel.”
“Wow Daniel Craig playing reed Richards would have been something else... Crowd would have gone wild. But wouldn’t have suited him,” a fan wrote on Twitter.
Another fan commented about casting the actor as Balder, “Strange casting choice if it happen since 99.8% of audiences seeing the film wouldn’t have had one iota of a clue who Balder is. I’ve never read a Marvel comic, but I know who Reed Richards is,” to which one replied, “In case you were wondering, Balder “The Brave” Odinson is Thro’s and Loki’s half brother.”
Maybe it’s a matter of time before Daniel Craig makes his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For now, fans can look forward to seeing him return to his popular role as Benoit Blanc in Knives Out 2, which is expected to premiere on Netflix in late 2022.
