Spider-Man: No Way Home originally planned to include a series of mini versions of Doctor Strange in one of its most mind-bending chase scenes.
Artist Phil Langone revealed that Spider-Man: No Way Home almost included mini versions of Doctor Strange.
Langone, who was the storyboard artist for Spider-Man: Homecoming and its two sequels, wrote on Instagram: "That time I had an idea that Dr. Strange created a bunch of mini Dr. Stranges while trying to stop Spider-Man." The caption accompanied an illustration of a group of tiny Doctor Stranges in pursuit of Peter Parker along with the movie's title card.
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The scene Langone referred to in his post involved a series of mind-bending illusions Doctor Strange created as he tried to stop Spider-Man from escaping with his mystical cube. Peter was ultimately able to escape Strange's tricks with math, which might not have worked with a swarm of Doctor Strange look-alikes.
The mini Doctor Stranges in Langone's concept art closely resemble drawings of the Mindless Ones, Dormammu's minions that originated in the comics but have yet to appear on-screen despite almost making it into Doctor Strange. But with Strange's astral push setting dozens of other illusions in motion, No Way Home's creative team had to pick and choose which magic tricks to bring to life and which to leave on the storyboard.
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Strange's Mirror Dimension seemed to turn New York City into an inescapable maze of obstacles, but tiny Stranges didn't make the final cut. In fact, they were just one of many original No Way Home concepts that were never used. "One day I’ll post some really fun ideas that didn’t make it," Langone wrote. "I have loads that I actually forgot about."
Other unused concepts from No Way Home included a possible Mysterio appearance as well as an alternate version of the scene where Andrew Garfield saves MJ. It's possible the Spider-Man film's Blu-ray bonus content could reveal even more never-before-seen ideas that didn't make it to the big screen.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is in theaters now.
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Meg Dowell is a Features Writer at CBR covering all things television (and often, but not always, Star Wars). You can find more of her nerdy brain-thoughts on Dork Side of the Force.
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