Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessstar Rachel McAdams is currently in talks to joinSam Raimi’sSend Help. Serving as his first return to the horror genre since 2009’sDrag Me To Hell, Raimi first boarded the project as director and producer back in July 2024. McAdams first collaborated withRaimi on 2022’sDoctor Strangesequel, reprising her previous Marvel Cinematic Universe role as Benedict Cumberbatch’s unrequited love interest, Dr. Christine Palmer.
PerDeadline,McAdams is currently in discussions to star in Raimi’sSend Helpfrom 20th Century Studios. However, reports suggest that negotiations are still only in very early stages, and nothing has been finalized yet. Based on a script penned byBaywatchscreenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift,Send Helpis described as a two-handed horror-thriller set on an island. The film’s story has been compared to Rob Reiner’s 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’sMiseryand the Tom Hanks-ledCast Awayfrom director Robert Zemeckis.Boy Kills Worldproducer Zainab Azizi is also set to produce under the Raimi Productions banner.
What Rachel McAdams' Potential Casting Means For Raimi’s Horror Return
Raimi Is Well Known For His Frequent Collaborators
Perhapsbest known as the creator and architect of theEvil Deadfranchise, Raimi’s unique horror sensibilities have gone on to inform his work in other genres, includingDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.Renowned for his energetic visuals and infusions of slapstick humor, his return to horror will likely come as good news for fans of both Raimi’s work and horror movies as a whole.
As such, the decision to bring McAdams in for his latest project could indicate that her time spent working onDoctor Strange 2could just be the start of a much larger and fruitful creative partnership.
Moreover, this latest news of McAdam’s potential casting continuesRaimi’s notorious trend of working with a select group of frequent collaborators. WhileEvil Deadstar Bruce Campbellis perhaps the best-known of Raimi’s recurring creative partners, over the years the director has accumulated a much longer list of collaborators both in front of and behind the cameras.
In addition to other recognizable faces such asSpider-Man’s J.K. Simmons and James Franco, Raimi has also regularly sought the assistance of creatives likeDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesscomposer Danny Elfman, andhis siblings Ted and Ivan Raimi. As such, the decision to bring McAdams in for his latest project could indicate that her time spent working on theDoctor Strangesequel could just be the start of a much larger and fruitful creative partnership.
Our Take McAdams' Send Help Role
Raimi’s New Horror Will Be A Big Shift From Doctor Strange 2
Given the underlying premise ofSend Help, and its comparison toCast AwayandMisery, it is likely thatmuch of the movie will bereliant on McAdams' performancewithout the benefit of relying on the contributions of many other cast members. Exactly who will be selected to star opposite her as the movie’s other lead remains to be seen, but McAdams has already proven herself a more than adept performer capable of holding an audience’s attention with what will likely become a largely solo performance. Moreover, this role will likely also be a sharp contrast to her supporting role in the large ensemble cast of her previous Raimi movie.
