UPDATE: Sam Raimi has now officially confirmed that he’s directing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a horror-oriented sequel that will release on November 5, 2021.

The sequel was originally set for release on May 7, 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in production being pushed back and the release date being delayed.

“I loved Doctor Strange as a kid,” Raimi said during a conference call today to promote his Quibi anthology series 50 States of Fright. “He was probably number five for me for great comic book characters. He was so original.”

Benedict Cumberbatch will return as Doctor Strange in the sequel, with Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Elizabeth Olsen also expected to reprise their MCU roles.

Jade Bartlett wrote the script, also being worked on by Michael Waldron.

Raimi directed the first episode of Quibi’s 50 States of Fright. New episodes arrive on the mobile streaming service every Monday.