Earlier this week, Marvel offered an advance look at Doctor Strange in a special 15-minute IMAX preview that took place across the country. And while the preview included some of the previously released footage and characters, it may have also given us a glimpse of someone very important to the mythos of Doctor Strange who had been previously unconfirmed in the story.

There some potentially huge spoilers ahead for the Doctor Strange movie. By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, you’ve been warned!

Via CinemaBlend, the preview footage included two sequences in which Strange appeared to confront the Dread Dormammu, one of Strange’s primary antagonists from the comic book realm. Dormammu was apparently represented by a 50-foot head that was reportedly very similar to his depictions in the earliest Doctor Strange stories by co-creator Steve Ditko. CinemaBlend asked director Scott Derrickson about the apparent inclusion of Dormammu, but Derrickson was evasive on the topic: “I’ll never tell. All you get is what you see.”

For the benefit of anyone who isn’t familiar with Doctor Strange, Dormammu is the biggest of big bads from the good doctor’s lineup of villains. Dormammu is the evil ruler of the Dark Dimension, and he played a role in the origin of Doctor Strange by convincing one of the Ancient One’s disciples to turn against his master. Dormammu later emerged as Strange’s personal nemesis, as he continuously attempted to crossover into Earth and expand his dominion. Dormammu has also shown up in several of Doctor Strange’s animated appearances, and he was also a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

When Mads Mikkelsen was cast as the villain in Doctor Strange, the early rumors suggested that he could be playing Dormammu. Instead, he’s portraying Kaecilius, a very minor character who was absent from the Marvel universe for almost three decades. But if Dormammu needs a human host on Earth, perhaps that rumor could still come true. If nothing else, Kaecilius may be Dormammu’s minion in the movie.

The exciting thing about Dormammu’s potential inclusion is that it opens the door for his niece, Clea, to appear in a Doctor Strange sequel. Clea is Strange’s lover and apprentice from the comics, and she is the rightful ruler of the Dark Dimension. Perhaps Doctor Strange 2 could even bring the action to the Dark Dimension and further establish Dormammu; his sister/ally, Umar; and the deadly Mindless Ones who follow his commands.

Doctor Strange will cast its spell on moviegoers on November 4, and then we’ll know for sure what’s happening with Dormammu in this movie.

Are you excited about the potential appearance of Dormammu in Doctor Strange? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel