'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' mid-credit scene, explained

Every good Marvel fan knows to stay in their seat after the credits roll on an MCU movie. Marvel has mastered the art of the next-movie tease, introducing characters as influential as Thanos in the post-credits of The Avengers and seeding plotlines like Nick Fury being in space in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness naturally maintains this pattern, with an exciting mid-credit scene that may have confused fans who aren't familiar with the deeper cuts of Doctor Strange lore. Have no fear: We know what was up with the purple lady and we're happy to share with you.

The mid-credit scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness begins with the good talker walking down the street in Greenwich Village with a conspicuous hipster scarf and not a care in the world – until a mysterious blonde woman played by the Charlize Theron emerges from a portal wearing an (admittedly cheesy) purple sorcerer's getup. She tells Strange that his work is not done and shows that her portal leads to the Dark Dimension, the location where Doctor Strange encountered and defeated Dormammu in Doctor Strange (remember "Dormammu, I've come to bargain?"). Strange whips off his scarf, which is revealed to be his Cloak of Levitation in disguise, and follows the woman into the neon abyss.

The blonde hair, purple suit, and partnership with Stephen Strange all point to Charlize Theron playing Clea, a huge figure in Doctor Strange's comic book history. She is a princess of the Dark Dimension, daughter of Prince Orini and subject of Dormammu, who we recall was still alive at the end of Doctor Strange. She is a powerful sorceress who becomes Doctor Strange's ally, lover, and later his sort-of wife (interdimensional marriages are difficult to legally enforce).

Getting an actor as respected as Charlize Theron to play Clea hints that her character will a large role in Doctor Strange 3 or other Marvel movies. As to how exactly the MCU will interpret her, it's hard to tell. Strange's journey in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness makes it clear that he's ready to move on from his feelings for Christine, so the romantic aspect of their relationship is definitely on the table. That, or the former Sorcerer Supreme just gained a cool new ally. If she doesn't end up being a villain, that is.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now in theaters.