Doctor Strange Awkwardly Referenced In General Hospital

Disney loves to synergize its properties whenever possible, and no matter how odd a fit the products might be, it will still find a way to incorporate them.

The latest example involves Marvel Studio’s upcoming movie, Doctor Strange. In addition to owning Marvel Studios, Disney also owns network ABC, and so it makes sense that they would advertise for Strange throughout the network’s schedule. The writers for ABC’s long-running soap General Hospital did one better for Disney and actually featured the film in a dialogue exchange between Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth) and Olivia Falconeri (Lisa Lo Cicero) (via io9).

Ned confesses that he misses Olivia, so she throws him an opportunity to woo her back and says “Well you know, Doctor Strange is about to hit theaters pretty soon.” Ned doesn’t let the opportunity fly by. “Well, you may be surprised to hear this, but, if I can’t see that movie with you, I won’t see it. It won’t be the same. I don’t want to pressure you, it’s just, how I feel.”

It’s supposed to be a flirty moment between the two, and evidently, it works since she kisses him by scene’s end, but having Doctor Strange in the mix still does feel a little forced.

It isn’t the first time Disney has leveraged it’s properties on daytime shows, as Marvel frequently reveals new plot points and books on shows like The View. This might be the oddest pairing, but it certainly won’t be the last.

General Hospital airs daily on ABC at 1 p.m.

Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4.