A Sam Raimi film wouldn’t be complete without a cameo from Bruce Campbell, and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ was no exception. In the movie, Campbell plays Pizza Poppa, a food vendor in an alternate dimension who has a brief encounter with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he searches for the Sanctum Sanctorum. Campbell is no stranger to Raimi’s films, having appeared in all three ‘Spider-Man’ movies in quirky roles: the wrestling announcer in the first, the stubborn usher in the second, and the maître d’ in the third. While these roles may seem minor, Campbell recently hinted in an interview with Variety that his ‘Doctor Strange 2’ character might be more significant than it seems.
Campbell teased, “Well, the fourth one, it’s not a ‘Spider-Man’ movie, but it is ‘Doctor Strange’. I play Pizza Poppa. But ask yourself, in the Marvel timeline, am I just a Pizza Poppa? Don’t kid yourself. My contract for that movie is thick. Do you think I’d sign that thick of a contract for a simple throwaway character? I delayed Doctor Strange. We didn’t fight, but I saved his life. The Marvel world is just beginning, and I can only say so much.”
Image Courtesy: Collider
This suggests that Campbell’s involvement in the MCU may not be over, hinting that his character could play a larger role in future films. This also raises the possibility of Raimi returning for more Marvel projects, despite rumors that the Russo Brothers will be directing ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. Raimi could still be involved in future ‘Doctor Strange’ films, with Campbell likely returning for a more substantial part in ‘Doctor Strange 3’.
Interestingly, Campbell was rumored to play Mysterio in Raimi’s unmade ‘Spider-Man 4’, tying together his previous appearances as different characters in the series. Mysterio, a master of illusion, would have made Campbell’s recurring roles in the trilogy more meaningful, as his past interactions with Peter Parker could have led to his villainous turn in the fourth film.
Image Courtesy: Screen Rant
While there’s no official confirmation of Campbell’s return to the MCU, fans should stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, you can catch him as Pizza Poppa in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, now streaming on Disney+.
–Farheen Ali