In the ever-expanding landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, few announcements in early 2021 raised eyebrows quite like the news that Danny Elfman would score Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now, in 2026, with the film long since released and the Multiverse Saga in full swing, it's worth looking back at how this collaboration came together — and what it meant for the MCU. Elfman, the legendary composer behind Tim Burton's Batman and Raimi's Spider-Man, was confirmed to be writing the music for the Doctor Strange sequel. At the time, he told Inverse that he was already prepping bits of music to be played on set during filming, even though he wouldn't officially start scoring for several months. 'I am starting to do bits of pre-work for Doctor Strange 2 that Sam Raimi's directing,' Elfman said. 'Even though I don't start it for some months, there's bits of recorded music they need for the sets.' That early involvement was a strong sign that production was back on track after COVID-19 delays.

🎵 A Composer's Journey Through the Multiverse

Elfman's résumé reads like a greatest hits of genre cinema. Since his major studio debut with Pee-Wee's Big Adventure in 1982, he has crafted iconic scores for Beetlejuice, Batman, Batman Returns, Spider-Man, and Spider-Man 2. His relationship with Raimi, however, wasn't always smooth sailing. The pair's collaboration soured between Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, but they eventually mended fences and worked together again on 2011's Oz the Great and Powerful. By the time Doctor Strange 2 came around, they were back on the same page. Elfman also had recent MCU experience, having scored Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015, and he replaced Junkie XL on 2017's Justice League. So when Marvel came calling for the Sorcerer Supreme's solo sequel, Elfman was a natural fit.

Here's a quick look at Elfman's superhero scoring history:

🕷️ The Spider-Man Connection

What made Elfman's return particularly intriguing was its implications for the Multiverse. With Phase 4 set to blow open the concept of parallel realities, Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel seemed poised to echo his Spider-Man films in more ways than one. At the time, rumors swirled that the untitled Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel (which became Spider-Man: No Way Home) would bring back Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. That film hit theaters in December 2021, just a few months before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrived in March 2022 (it was later delayed to May 2022). The writing was on the wall: Marvel was gearing up to reintroduce Maguire's web-slinger, and Elfman's music would help bridge those worlds. In the end, No Way Home did feature Maguire and Andrew Garfield, and Doctor Strange 2 continued the multiverse madness with cameos galore.

🌌 Production Challenges and Pre-Work

Elfman's early pre-work was a lifeline for a production that had been through the wringer. In January 2021, Elizabeth Olsen revealed that filming in the UK had been paused due to a rise in COVID cases. With production also planned for New York City, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, the crew needed music for the sets — and Elfman delivered. 'There's bits of recorded music they need for the sets,' he explained. That kind of preparation is unusual for a composer, but Raimi knew what he wanted. The fact that Elfman was already recording bits months before his official start suggested that the film was further along than fans thought. It also showed how much trust Raimi placed in his old friend.

🤯 What It All Meant for the MCU

When Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness finally released on May 6, 2022, it was a wild ride. Critics were divided, but Elfman's score was widely praised for blending his signature gothic style with Raimi's kinetic energy. The film explored the Darkhold, the Illuminati, and alternate realities, and it set up major threads for the future of the MCU. In 2026, we can see how those threads played out in projects like Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine, and the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars. Elfman's music helped establish the eerie, chaotic tone of the multiverse, and his work on Doctor Strange 2 remains a highlight of Phase 4.

🎬 A Match Made in Heaven?

Was Elfman's return a match made in heaven? For fans of Raimi's Spider-Man films, it certainly felt like it. Elfman brought a sense of nostalgia and grandeur, and his themes for the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange were both haunting and heroic. The composer proved that he could still deliver the goods after decades in the business. And while the film itself had its ups and downs, the music was never one of them. As we look ahead to the next phases of the MCU, one thing is clear: Danny Elfman's contribution to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was no small potatoes. It was a multiverse of musical madness, and we were all better for it.

Source: Inverse