Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Rumor points Shuma-Gorath appearing in upcoming Marvel projects

Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already coming in as quite the success, even with no theatrical releases having arrived yet. Both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier found ways to not only give more depth and insight to their long-standing leads but also introduced mysterious new characters that will likely see more screen time in the MCU's future.

Through every slate of movies in the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios took many opportunities to set up characters taken straight from the pages of Marvel Comics as it's done for more than a decade now. This will continue to be the case in Phase 4 both in theaters and on Disney+ with heroes like Kate Bishop in Hawkeye and America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Another newcomer from the Doctor Strange mythology may even be coming to the MCU soon, and it could be one of the strangest and weirdest beings Marvel's ever attempted.

A post from insider Daniel Richtman on his Patreon account revealed that Marvel Studios is planning to bring Doctor Strange villain Shuma-Gorath into a future MCU project. No other specifics were offered on when the character will make his debut. 

Shuma-Gorath is certainly a lesser-known Marvel character, but this wouldn't be the first time MCU has attempted to take on this kind of challenge. In the comics, the Sorcerer Supreme bad guy is depicted as a green multi-limbed cyclops resembling a sort of alien octopus, originally introduced in Marvel Premiere #5 from November 1972. He's often described as an ancient demon with supernatural powers, even at times all-powerful, having ruled over multiple dimensions over hundreds of thousands of years.

While Shuma-Gorath could very well make his debut in the 2022 Doctor Strange sequel with so much multiversal action coming, it's impossible to pinpoint exactly how he would fit into what's confirmed for future plots thus far. No matter when this new villain arrives, it will be quite the sight to see when a cycloptopus of sorts comes toe-to-toe with one or more of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

For now, fans await the debut of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which comes on March 25, 2022.