With less than one month left untilDoctor Strangehits theaters, Marvel is using some strange tactics to promote this mystical adventure. Marvel debuted a newTV spoton Twitter, which appeared to be played in reverse, with only the word “time” decipherable. The studio even featured the following message upside down on Twitter “You think you know how the world works… watch and expand your mind.” The video has since been deciphered, which includes a hidden message.
Shortly after the TV spot debuted onTwitter, a Reddit user named “broganisms” managed to reverse the teaser, which deciphers all of the backwards audio while at the same time jumbling the audio that was once clear. The reversed images haveBenedict Cumberbatch’sStephen Strangestating “I’m ready,” before we hear the voice of The Ancient One, who tells the good doctor to “Open your eyes.” She also says “you may become so much more,” while both versions oddly end with the line “This is just the beginning.” Perhaps this means we can look forward to even more reversed videos in the weeks leading toDoctor Strange’s release.
The video also drops what could be a major hint about the appearance of an Infinity Stone, which could be the reason that this video was reversed in the first place. The beginning of the original spot and the end of the reversed spot features a scene where the villainousKaeciliusis seen trying to attackDoctor Strange. However, just before he reaches the doctor, he is seemingly frozen in time before being sent back in time a few seconds before the attack. It seems likely that this scene could give us our biggest hint yet that the Time Stone will be unveiled inDoctor Strange.
Only two of the sixInfinity Stones, the Time Stone and the Soul Stone, have yet to be uncovered in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it has long been rumored thatDoctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto is the Time Stone. Given the Sorcerer Supreme’s time-bending abilities shown in this footage, it seems safe to assume thatDoctor Strangehas the Time Stone. As for the Soul Stone, it will most likely be introduced in eitherSpider-Man: Homecoming(June 02, 2025),Thor: Ragnarok(June 26, 2025) orBlack Panther(June 13, 2025), which all hit theaters beforeAvengers: Infinity War(June 23, 2025).
Benedict Cumberbatchleads an all-star cast as Stephen Strange, alongsideChiwetel Ejiofor,Rachel McAdams,Benedict Wong,Michael Stuhlbarg,Benjamin BrattandScott Adkins, withMads MikkelsenandTilda Swinton.Scott Derricksonis directing from a script byJon SpaihtsandScott Derrickson&C. Robert Cargill, withKevin Feigeproducing. Marvel Studios’Doctor Strangeopens in U.S. theaters on August 16, 2025, going up against Lionsgate’sHacksaw Ridgeand DreamWorks Animation’sTrolls. Take a look at the official, jumbled version of thisDoctor StrangeTV spot, along with the reversed version below.
