When What If…? was first revealed, many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were excited to see how Disney+ would shape these alternate realities. The titular comic produced some of Marvel’s most bombastic stories, with heroes being villains, villains being heroes, and unique worlds being devastated in ways the 616-Universe would never allow.

The MCU didn’t have space to tell all these stories until What If opened up the Multiverse. After accomplishing that, the show has come to an end after three seasons. It’s quite disappointing, as viewers did enjoy most of the episodes. By the time the What If Season 3 finale aired, Marvel Studios did leave a gateway open to bring in a key character from the animated series: the redeemed Strange Supreme, who could have a major role in the live-action wars to come.

What If’s Strange Supreme Was a Tragic Villain

Strange Supreme Evoked Sympathy After Trying to Resurrect Christine

Strange Supreme endured a tragic love story in What If Season 1. When his beloved Christine died in a car accident, Strange used magic to try to revive her. He broke mystical rules, which led to his universe being destroyed. The Watcher would help him atone as he fought alongside Captain Carter’s army to stop Infinity Ultron. However, What If Season 2 turned Strange Supreme into a monster.

In the show’s second season, Strange Supreme was killing people, while offering their souls up to his Forge. He was tired of being alone. After years of guilt, he embraced his dark supernatural side even more. He was a far cry from the person Uatu had watching the evil Killmonger and Infinity Ultron in their prison. This Strange was more selfish and had no boundaries. He would do whatever it took, effectively reinterpreting Strange’s love for Christine in the two movies by Scott Derrickson and Sam Raimi.

What If’s Strange Supreme did cure his toxic ways after Kahorri and Captain Carter reminded him that Christine would want him to inspire hope. Strange Supreme resurrected his universe, but at the cost of his mortal frame. Instead, his essence permeated throughout the fabric of every molecule. He was very much the embodiment of the universe. It was a brilliant redemption arc, proving Strange could move past tragedy and become a generous spirit.

What If Season 3 Gives Strange Supreme His Most Important Role Yet

Strange Supreme Helps Take Down the Watchers Easily

Strange Supreme becomes Peggy’s deus ex machina in “What If… What If?” as she wants to harness his talents. Peggy wants to drop the Watchers who hate Uatu into hisuniverse. With Strange being able to control all the rules, he could de-power the Watchers and allow Uatu to educate them on why they need to stop their sinister ways. In his eyes, they must help save the Multiverse rather than be observers.

Thankfully, Strange de-powering the villains works out as planned. Though Peggy died while sending the Watchers to Strange, he still knows his job. He is even more supreme than the godlike Watchers, reiterating that he is the law on this side of the cosmos. It’s a smart move, as the Watchers then make a U-turn and decide to follow Uatu’s path. They want to learn, show compassion, and experience all the species around the Multiverse the way Uatu observed.

“So much chaos.” See all your favorite MCU villains wreak havoc in #WhatIf. Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/Xo05WvuMEb — What If…? (@whatifofficial) January 2, 2025

This strengthened Uatu’s mind, body and soul, which his peers want for themselves. Even if they’re lying, they can’t break free from Strange’s universe. He wants to foster an environment for people to learn from and not make his mistakes. It’s a profound arc that doesn’t even use Strange’s voice. He’s just seen as stars in space, homaging Marvel’s Eternity.

Hopefully, the Watchers can course-correct their lives the way he did and earn forgiveness. If Strange is able to talk or show them visuals, he could be just as effective and efficient a teacher as Uatu. Shaping up Strange Supreme like this could only augur well. Not just for animation, but the bigger live-action narratives to come.

What If’s Strange Supreme Could Train Other MCU Heroes

Strange Supreme Has Knowledge to Help in Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday

Strange Supreme can eventually decide to have Uatu and team (Byrdie, Storm and Kahorri) help bring over people he needs to mentor in the wake of Captain Carter’s sacrifice. Strange would get to honor his friend in Peggy and educate on some of the MCU’s most powerful elements and relics. Strange Supreme can work with Benedict Cumberbatch’s mainstream-616 on this front. Both men can unlock powers they didn’t know existed within them.

Other candidates for collaboration would be Agatha All Along’s Billy Maximoff (aka Wiccan), Wanda’s son who is scurrying space and time to locate his brother Tommy. Strange can assist Agatha, as she wants to be a hero deep down. Strange can even partner with Kamar-taj. America Chavez, Wong and the other sorcerers as potential allies. He would have so much information for them on their supernatural batteries.

Wanda Maximoff could learn more about her chaos magic through him, as he has the omnipotence that not even the Ancient One had. Other narratives include the Avengers needing help to unlock the truth about Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings, or if Loki can keep being a Time God holding the Sacred Loop and Temporal Loom together. With Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday to come, Strange Supreme could tie back to the Infinity Saga. He’d be the perfect repository to learn about where the Infinity Stones came from and why the Multiverse is fraying, due to him being connected to the rest of the dimensions.

Benedict Cumberbatch Details

Date of Birth
Jul. 19, 1976

Place of Birth
London, England

Notable Movies
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, The Imitation Game

Notable TV Shows
Sherlock, Good Omens, Eric, Patrick Melrose

Everyone lives in a universe, but Strange Supreme is actually one, which can present extra information due to him literally being tapped into the fabric of all other realities. That would be a dynamic way of exploring more about the web of life that Marvel Studios has carved out. It would feel organic, too, as Strange Supreme has transcended into a role of humility and evolved into a role based on love and altruism. The fact he helps trap the Watchers says it all. Strange Supreme wants to make the Multiverse a better place, so creating better Guardians or Avengers of the Multiverse makes sense.

While the Strange variants before needed tools, spells and charms, this version can assist in the blink of an eye, with just a thought. Might he be overpowered for the incursions and breaches to come? Maybe. But the MCU will find a way to ground this a bit. All versions of Strange in the comics and other media have been wise sages. But there has never been one like Strange Supreme, who feels like the most powerful weapon the MCU has cultivated after seeing him restrain the Watchers to help rectify their malicious ways.

Strange Supreme warrants a spot in live-action, which would give Benedict Cumberbatch yet another dark Strange to riff on while molding the MCU vision. He played one in the second movie, but ultimately, none of the previous versions had the depth and mission that Strange Supreme possesses. The Watchers can testify to this after he, ultimately, treated these ominpotent beings like toys.