Doctor Strange 2: Night Nurse’s Return Can Fix A Problem From The First Movie

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will feature the return of Rachel McAdams’ Night Nurse, which means the sequel can fix a major problem from the first movie. In the 1970s, Marvel launched a short-running series called Night Nurse, a medical drama/romance series that was intended to appeal to female readers. Written by Jean Thomas, unlike most Marvel comics the book didn’t feature any superheroes at all. And though Night Nurse didn’t last, two of the stars – Linda Carter and Christine Palmer – returned decades later. Still, they remain pretty deep cuts into comic book lore.

For all that’s the case, though, Marvel’s Night Nurses have been pretty influential over the last few years. Marvel Netflix based their popular character Claire Temple, played by Rosario Dawson, on the Night Nurses. And Rachel McAdams was Christine Palmer in 2016’s Doctor Strange, with her version of the Night Nurse transformed into a love interest for the future Sorcerer Supreme. Unfortunately, the portrayal was less than effective, with Christine Palmer suffering from a familiar Marvel problem – she became a love interest who was barely developed as a character, and who seemed an awkward fit for the increasing mysticism of Doctor Strange’s world. Nobody was particularly surprised by initial reports McAdams wasn’t coming back for Doctor Strange 2.

It’s now been confirmed Rachel McAdams will indeed be returning in Doctor Strange 2, and this news provides Marvel with the perfect opportunity to fix their previous mistake. The studio need to make sure Night Nurse is shown as a person in her own right, with a life beyond Stephen Strange and with a sense of impetus and direction of her own. Ideally, she could serve as a major viewpoint character, an ordinary woman who gets caught up in the “Multiverse of Madness” and therefore helps viewers understand the wonder and insanity of it all.

Rachel McAdams is a tremendous actress, famous for performances in films such as Mean Girls, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Sherlock Holmes, and The Vow. An actor as celebrated as McAdams deserves to have a major role in the MCU, rather than simply exist as a background character and a disposable love interest. Back in 2016, disappointed fans compared Marvel’s use of McAdams with that of Natalie Portman, who played Jane Foster in the Thor movies and was similarly wasted. It’s worth noting Portman is returning to Marvel too in Thor: Love & Thunder, and Marvel is redeeming that situation by turning Jane Foster into the Mighty Thor. Hopefully they will be able to redeem McAdams’ Christine Palmer as well.

Little is currently known about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but it’s generally regarded as one of the most exciting Phase 4 films, particularly given the Marvel return of Sam Raimi as director. It’s interesting to note the original reports that McAdams would not be appearing in the sequel came out around the time Raimi was confirmed to be in talks for the film; it’s possible there’s been a change of plans, with Raimi wanting her on board. This could bode well for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4894 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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