Doctor Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) new power could be key to understanding the MCU's multiverse. In Strange to a dying dimension. In the middle of all of this dimension hopping, Strange from the main timeline is only beginning to see the expanse of the multiverse and learning to navigate it.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was the first MCU film to dive deep into the multiverse concept and the film concludes with Doctor Strange screaming in pain as a third eye opens up on his forehead. In the film's mid-credit scene Strange reveals his third eye to Clea (Charlize Theron) before the pair travel to Dormammu's Dark Dimension. This scene seems odd, but looking to the comic book source material, Strange's third eye could be a big hint for the events of Doctor Strange 3.
What New Powers Does Doctor Strange's Third Eye Give Him?
Failing to obtain the Strange Academy #3 Yao, the Ancient One, tells his class that the Eye of Agamotto allows sorcerers "to see the ties between our world and the many beyond". The eye on Strange's forehead may be a symptom of the Darkhold's corruption but, assuming that Doctor Strange's third eye works in the same manner as the Eye of Agamotto, it could also be the key to navigating the multiverse.
How Doctor Strange's Third Eye Could Help Navigate The Multiverse
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced two primary methods of traversing the multiverse: America Chavez's powers and Dreamwalking. Although the latter involves possessing the body of a variant so technically the Dreamwalker does not physically travel to another Earth. There is, however, a third method hidden in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and it may tie directly into Doctor Strange's third eye. Early in the film, it is established that dreams are windows into other universes, and later Sinister Strange explains that, after fracturing his own universe, he went searching for a new one.
"You ever had that dream where you're falling as if you've been pushed off a tall building?" Sinister Strange taunts, "That was probably me." An eye opens on his forehead and the two Doctor Strange multiverse variants begin fighting for the Darkhold. Perhaps, having become corrupted by the Darkhold, Sinister Strange unlocked the ability to navigate the multiverse. Going one step further than Scarlett Witch's Dreamwalking and physically traveling to other dimensions to kill his variants. Similarly, Doctor Strange opens his own third eye before stepping into the Dark Dimension. While he could be doing this to show off to Clea, perhaps he is actually using his new power to help navigate between dimensions and parallel universes.
Doctor Strange exhibits a range of new spells in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, his third eye may be his most important new power as it could allow him to navigate the MCU's multiverse. Where Doctor Strange will next make an appearance is unknown, but his new power will surely prove essential in the fight against Kang the Conquerer (Jonathan Majors), and his many variants.
