Doctor Strangeactor Benedict Cumberbatch reveals new details about hisMarvel Cinematic Universeinvolvement inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. With Phase 5 getting closer to its end, Phase 6 will soon be kicking off, meaning the MCU will finally be getting to the next majorAvengersmovies. WhiletheAvengers: Doomsdaycasthas slowly been fleshed out, it turns out plans are changing for one of the MCU’s most powerful players.
In a new feature piece withVariety, Cumberbatch made a few shocking reveals about his MCU future, particularly regardingAvengers: Doomsday. Despite revealing in 2024 thatDoctor Strange would be inAvengers 5, the actor explained to the trade that he is no longer in that film - stating “is that a spoiler? F–k it!” - due to “the character not aligning with this part of the story.” However, Cumberbatch confirmed toVarietyhe will instead have a bigger role inAvengers: Secret Wars, sharing “he’s quite central to where things might go.”
What Benedict Cumberbatch’s Avengers: Doomsday Comments Mean
While the world will likely never know whattheAvengers 5storywith Kang was going to look like, Cumberbatch’s new revelation is fascinating for a number of reasons when it comes to how Doctor Strange would have worked in that version of the film. To begin with,Doctor Strange hasn’t encountered a single Kang variant through The Multiverse Saga, which would have made this the first time he encountered any of Majors' Kang characters. If anything, there are more reasons for Doctor Strange to be inAvengers: Doomsdaywith Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom than being in a Kang-centric storyline.
Given that Doctor Strange had a dynamic with Tony Stark on Earth-616,it would have had more of an emotional core to see him having to face a potential Iron Man variant who, for reasons yet to be revealed, goes by Victor von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom, in his world. However, the fact that Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will be part oftheAvengers: Secret Warscast- along with the little tease he gave in this interview - seemingly sets up Stephen having a crucial role in the Phase 6 finale. Whether or notAvengers: Doomsdaywill explain Doctor Strange’s absence remains to be seen.
Our Take On Benedict Cumberbatch’s Avengers: Doomsday Comments
While it was unexpected to learn that Cumberbatch will be sitting out as Doctor Strange inAvengers: Doomsday,there will hopefully be a justifiable story as to why Stephen isn’t initially involved against Doctor Doom. With Doctor Strange being such a powerful player inthe MCU timeline, it may feel more earned to have him emerge inAvengers: Secret Warsfor the grand finale. Hopefully, more details aboutAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warswill be revealed throughout 2025, with the former set to start filming this year.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
