Here we are again. Another Marvel movie behind us, and you know what that means... I've got some questions! Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange is a bonafide hit after its first weekend in theaters, both critically and commercially. It's a genuine spectacle with staggering set-pieces and inventive, magical action and it's a damn fine introduction to Marvel's realms of magic and Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme in the making. But, as with all Marvel films, it also acts a stepping stone toward the future of the MCU. What comes next for the brilliant neurosurgeon and gifted magician? What role will he have to play in the bigger picture?

In a post that's just absolutely packed with spoilers – seriously, so many spoilers – I've broken down some of the major unanswered questions after Doctor Strange. Ponder along with me below.

1. When Will Doctor Strange Become Sorcerer Supreme?

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Image via Marvel Studios

In a bit of a surprise, Doctor Strange's MCU origin story doesn't end with him assuming the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme. We see Strange's training, we see him prove himself a formidable sorcerer in battle, and we witness a passing-the-torch moment of sorts between Strange and The Ancient One. But at the end of the film, Strange hands back the Eye of Agamotto, takes on a new role as guardian of the New York sanctum, and the universe, it seems, is left without a Sorcerer Supreme for the time being.

Doctor Strange was a huge success for a standalone entry, even by Marvel’s high standards, so it’s a pretty safe bet that Marvel will find time to work a sequel into their increasingly packed lineup. Strange’s ascension to the title could make for an interesting bit of progress for the character in the second film, but it’s also hard to imagine that Marvel would find earth locked in the Infinity War without a Sorcerer Supreme on guard, so perhaps Strange’s new duties will manifest in the next Avengers film and bring him into the fold. Either way, it’s likely fans won’t have to wait too much longer to see Stephen Strange assume his rightful mantle as the Sorcerer Supreme, it's just a question of how he gets there.

2. Has Mordo Gone Full Villain?

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Image via Marvel

As for Mordo, we know he’s lost his faith in the teachings of the Ancient One, turning his back on Doctor Strange and the Kamar-Taj, but how deep and dark has the idealist sorcerer fallen? The post-credits sequence did a thorough job of establishing how cut-throat and unrelenting he has become -- we see his very dark side when he rips the powers from Benjamin Bratt's magic-healed Jonathan Pangborn, leaving him crippled on the floor. But how far will he take his beliefs?

I’m guessing pretty far. Faith and belief have been the crux of countless wars over the history of the human race. They are, along with greed, of course, some of the most powerful drivers of violence and warfare. We know from Serenity that Ejiofor can pull off the faith-driven monster flawlessly, and I’d expect it’s that sense of sympathy, charisma, and heightened intelligence that makes him such a perfect fit for a character like Mordo, who has found he is capable of horrible things in the name of what he believes is right and good.

Should the ascension of the next Sorcerer Supreme arise as a plot point in the next Doctor Strange installment, that would make a natural battle ground to deepen the rivalry between him and Strange. Speaking with Crave, Screenwriter Jon Spaights describes the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, not as a matter of character, but as a “heavyweight champion”, and as the man who trained Strange and The Ancient One’s long-time right-hand man, we know that Mordo is incredibly powerful, and the position of Sorcerer Supreme would give Mordo the power to reign in all the egregious transgressions of power that broke his faith in his fellow sorcerers.

Whatever they choose to do with Mordo from here, I hope they let him fulfill his full potential and reduce the temptation to embed his narrative within a larger apocalyptic thread. Learn from Civil War -- the fate of mankind doesn’t always have to hang in the balance, sometimes interpersonal drama and the fate of beloved characters bring the highest stakes, and in the relationship between Strange and Mordo, Marvel has mined some of their most promising character conflict to date.

3. Is There a Future for Christine Palmer?

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Image via Marvel

Marvel gets a lot right, but all too often, it get's its female characters wrong. Natalie Portman's Jane Foster was the most egregious example; an underwritten pretty-faced genius who never used smarts for anything but furthering Thor's narrative and disappeared without fanfare. Even Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts started out as a charming, but very damsel-in-distress secondary character whose entire world seems to revolve solely around Tony Stark. Fortunately, they gave her character a lot more to do in subsequent films, even giving her a heroic turn in Iron Man 3. But as we all know now, that film faced its own share of female problems when Rebecca Hall's character was neutered from a full-fledged villain to a somewhat meaningless casualty when the studio opted for Guy Pearce's baddie in the name of toy sales (Because who doesn't own an Aldrich Killian figurine, amiright?). But they are making an effort and things are getting better! We've got Black Widow and Scarlet Witch kicking ass right alongside the boys with The Wasp and Captain Marvel on the way. Doctor Strange featured a tremendously powerful female character in Tilda Swinton's The Ancient One (though that was unfortunately marred by its own racial implications). Which is what makes the backslide with Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer so frustrating.

Palmer is definitely in the thick of Jane Foster territory here – an inherently brilliant and strong-willed character who served no purpose but to further Strange's arc. She acts as a mirror of who he was before – a contrast to highlight how much he has changed, and while she gets to save the day a little in the operating room, it's overshadowed by Strange's astral projection fight. Essentially she has no arc and no resolution of her own, and no purpose but to further illuminate Strange's transformation. So will she return? Is she still a viable part of Doctor Strange's story? We know she won't be the Night Nurse, so does she have a role to play or is she best left as a remnant of Strange's former life?

4. Is That It for Dormammu?

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Image via Marvel

One of Doctor Strange’s best known comic book foes, Dormammu, served as the surprise villain-behind-the-villain (an increasingly tired plot trend from Marvel) for his film debut. (And he was voiced/performed via motion-capture by Cumberbatch, no less!) While I’m not a fan of how predictably he was shoehorned in, Dormammu’s presence did allow for the inspired and original defeat by time loop, which showcased the unique powers and dangers of the time stone. But was it enough? Is that a satisfying enough on-screen incarnation of the beloved villain to leave him behind?

For my money, yes. That will do, thank you. Dormammu might just be one of those characters that functions better in comic book form and on-screen he was just one of the many floaty, other-worldly, all-powerful bad guys we’ve seen so many of at this point. And there's the fact that, if Dormammu was generic and Mads Mikkelsen’s Kaecillius had too little to do, Doctor Strange succeeded on the villain front in the creation of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo, who is complex, sympathetic, powerful, and arguably had a better arc than Strange himself. Future Doctor Strange installments would do well to avoid the Thor: The Dark World trap -- wherein the excellent Loki was sidelined in favor of a boilerplate apocalyptic villain -- and lean into the dramatically rich rivalry of ethics between the former allies.

5. Where the Hell Was Amy Landecker?

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Image via Focus Features

While Doctor Strange was lining up its insanely impressive cast, one of the names that emerged was Transparent star Amy Landecker, who joined the film in an unknown role. So naturally folks were a bit curious when she was nowhere to be seen in the theatrical release. Or at least, you'd only see her if you knew exactly where and when to look. Turns out Scott Derrickson is a big fan of the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man and wanted to get Landecker back in the room with Michael Stuhlbarg (who plays Strange's less-brilliant medical rival, Dr. Nicodermus West). So if you look real close, Landecker is one of those doctors behind a surgical mask and cap in the film's opening scenes. That's it.

Here's what she told The A.V. Club about the role, and you should really read her full story, because it's much more detailed:

"So I get to England, and I’m there a week—a few days before everybody else, because they were shooting in another country. They said they needed me there to take lessons in brain surgery and to do my hair and makeup test. But it turned out that, when I get there, I’m in a mask and scrubs and a surgical cap. The entire film. There will not be a moment in the film where I do not have the mask on my face. So I’m finding out… Okay, so my performance is my eyes. Okay. I’m humble. Okay, I’m still in a Marvel movie. It’s still really exciting."

Ultimately, Landecker was supposed to end up in a second scene, but one she would only appear in the background for with no dialogue. So she asked if she could attend Transparent's White House premiere instead. Understandable, and Marvel was gracious enough to let her do it. So there you have it. Landecker is in the film, but blink and you miss it. Perhaps sad considering Landecker is such a talented actress, but also a bit of fun movie buff nerdiness when you know why Derrickson put her there in the first place.

6. How Will Doctor Strange Fit in with The Avengers?

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Image via Marvel Studios

We saw it from the beginning in Avengers, and we saw it hit explosive heights in Civil War – The Avengers have always been a group of diverse and divisive personalities prone to clashing. How will a smug, incredibly powerful (and frankly very Tony Stark-ish) man like Stephen Strange fit in with the already fractured team of superheroes? Will he bond with the science bros? How many feathers will he ruffle? (A lot, I'm guessing) And how will the established team deal with a newcomer who has so much sense of authority?

In the comics, Strange has traditionally been a bit of a removed figure from the Earth's Mightiest Heroes, a powerful ally who pops up in times of dire need. Will the MCU continue that tradition, reserving Strange's Avenger interactions for the moment when other-worldly threats reach a boiling point? Or will they seek to integrate him more intimately with the group dynamic that has made Marvel films so popular? Benedict Cumberbatch is certainly too charming a figure, with far too good comedic timing to keep him out of the banter too often. And fortunately, the folks at Marvel seem to have had the good sense to line-up an opportunity to get him and Tom Hiddleston on-screen together in Thor: Ragnarok so we know we'll see him back in the mix before too long. But in terms of the larger picture, what role will Doctor Strange serve within Marvel's ever-expanding cinematic universe?

7. What Role Will Doctor Strange Play in 'Thor: Ragnarok'?

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Image via Marvel

But first! We know from the mid-credits sequence that Strange's next adventure ties in with Thor on his quest to stop Loki (once again, that pesky fellow) and find Odin. If you remember from the end of The Dark World (which seems forever ago, doesn't it?!), Loki had used his trixy ways to masquerade as his father while the true ruler of Asgard lies in an Odinsleep. No doubt, Thor: Ragnarok will deal with the consequences of that.

How big Strange's role will be in uncovering that mystery remains to be seen, but we do know that he's striking up a deal to help Thor on his mission with the compromise that those damn Asgardian's keep their apocalyptic politics off Earth's dimension. Which is fair considering how much damage Loki and the Dark Elves have wrought. We know from the Ragnarok set photos that Thor and Loki will visit Manhattan, but can Doctor Strange also use his sling ring to visit Asgard? How much screen time will Cumberbatch share with his old pal and MCU standout Tom Hiddleston? (I refuse to believe Marvel would waste such a golden opportunity.) Will Thor (or worse, Loki) find out that Strange has an Infinity Stone? And perhaps most importantly, how much does their interaction help pave the way for Infinity War?

What about you guys? What Doctor Strange questions have been keeping you up at night? Wondering how Thanos gets his hands on the Time Stone? Curious what the new wifi code is at Kamar-Taj? Can Stephen Strange and Tony Stark's egos actually fit in one room? Sound off in the comments below!