Doctor Strange looking serious in Multiverse of Madness next to Wolverine and Deadpool

Deadpool & Wolverine could have massive implications for the MCU’s multiverse, but it could also set up a threatening villain for Doctor Strange 3. The MCU’s multiverse continues to expand with projects like Spider-Man: No Way Home, Loki, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, exploring the concept of the multiverse, and bringing in characters from other Marvel universes. The multiverse will grow even larger in Deadpool & Wolverine, as Fox’s X-Men characters crossover into the MCU. The film could have massive implications for the multiverse, setting the stage for Avengers 5.

One project that could explore the multiverse further is Doctor Strange 3, but the sequel’s status is still unconfirmed. However, the MCU delivered a massive cliffhanger in Doctor Strange 2‘s post-credit scene with the arrival of Charlize Theron’s Clea. Doctor Strange’s MCU story is not over, and if there is another sequel, the villain will likely be a multiversal threat. According to a theory, Deadpool & Wolverine could introduce who Doctor Strange could fight in his next chapter.

Deadpool & Wolverine Could Introduce The Living Tribunal After Loki’s Easter Egg

The Living Tribunal statue in Loki

Deadpool & Wolverine will have a sequence within the Void, a point located at the end of time. The location was first featured in Loki season 1, episode 5, and features many people and things pruned by the TVA to keep the sacred timeline intact. The Void is filled with Marvel Easter eggs that audiences could look for, including the Thanos-copter, Throg, and a Hydra helicarrier. Another Easter egg was the head of a Living Tribunal statue, which could be more important than it seems.

In the comics, the Living Tribunal is an all-powerful being whose sole purpose is to guard the multiverse. A statue of this character suggests that it does exist, and was worshiped as a type of god in another universe. As Deadpool and Wolverine wander The Void, they could stumble upon this statue, questioning who it is and how it ties into the larger story. While Deadpool & Wolverine may not focus on this character, its further introduction could be important for another MCU project.

Doctor Strange 3 Could Feature The Tribunal As The Main Villain

The Living Tribunal appears in Marvel Comics.

The post-credit scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Clea recruiting Stephen Strange to help her fix an incursion within the multiverse. Doctor Strange’s actions in the sequel caused damage to the multiverse, meaning he may have angered the Living Tribunal. Several other characters have messed with the multiverse, including Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, and Loki, which could lead to the Tribunal reaching a breaking point with the MCU.

In the comics, the Tribunal is first introduced in a Doctor Strange comic. The Tribunal finds the Earth irredeemable and plans to destroy it, but he gives Doctor Strange time to prove the Earth is worth saving. Doctor Strange 3 could follow a similar storyline where the Tribunal finds Earth-616 too harmful to the larger multiverse, and Doctor Strange and Clea have to stop him from destroying the universe. Deadpool & Wolverine could damage the multiverse even more, giving the Tribunal more reason to go head-to-head with Doctor Strange.