First Doctor Strange film removed crucial death scene, according to actress

The first Doctor Strange film had removed a crucial death scene, actress Lulu Wilson revealed in an interview with Comicbook.com. Wilson was involved with the first solo outing of Benedict Cumberbatch's magical superhero, playing his deceased sister Donna Strange. Her scene was the one that was removed in the final version of the film.

Comic book fans of Stephen Strange will know that his sister's tragic death via drowning and his inability to save her during his childhood is the catalyst for his training and studying to become a doctor and surgeon to save lives.

Previously, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' concept artist Darrell Warner revealed that one of the earlier drafts of the film's script, which featured the character Nightmare as the main villain, saw Strange revisiting the night his sister died through Nightmare's dream world.

Donna and her death were mentioned in the final version of Multiverse of Madness when Strange was having a conversation with a villainous alternate version of himself, Sinister Strange.

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Lulu Wilson talks about her deleted scene in Doctor Strange involving her character Donna's death

Lulu Wilson thought the scene involving Donna Strange's death was a good moment (Images via iMDb/@darrelljwarner_Instagram)

Speaking to Comicbook.com, Lulu Wilson talked about playing Donna in the deleted scenes of the first Doctor Strange film. She expressed disappointment at the scenes not making it to the film's final cut, saying it would not only have been good for her but also would have been a good moment.

"I died and that's the whole thing because Donna Strange is dead and Doctor Strange is like, 'My sister is dead!' So I died and remember being a little bit pissed because come on, that would have been a good moment and would have been good for me."

The Haunting of Hill House and Ouija actress then added that she would be willing to come back and play Donna Strange in the future if asked. She also noted that she was in fifth grade when she filmed her scenes as Donna in the first film.

In a 2016 interview with Collider, Scott Derrickson, who directed the first solo outing for Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange, spoke about the deleted death scene, noting that Donna's death in Strange's childhood drove the latter to become a doctor to save lives.

Derrickson also revealed to Collider that even though the scene depicting Strange's sister's death was shot, it did not fit within the story he was trying to tell, which was why he had removed it. The Black Phone director, however, did state that he loved the scene.

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Why the deleted Doctor Strange scene involving Donna Strange's death was important

The deleted death scene involving Donna would have not only fleshed out Strange as a character but would have also allowed audiences to connect and empathize with him a lot better. It would have explained why he became a doctor and why his research as a neurosurgeon was important to him.

Donna's death scene and the after-effects of it would have also explained to audiences and fans why Dr. Strange was very arrogant and controlling when he was introduced in his first solo outing. It would have also added a layer of emotional depth to the conversation Strange had with the Ancient One after her death.

The death scene would have also helped better depict Strange's desperation to fix his hands and return to his career of saving lives as a surgeon. It would have also added depth to the emotional argument between Strange and his ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer over moving on with life in the first film.

It remains to be seen if Marvel eventually explores Strange's backstory in Doctor Strange 3. However, it would no doubt be great if Kevin Feige and the writers for the next Dr. Strange film somehow worked in Strange's backstory in the narrative.

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Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are currently streaming on Disney+.