Benedict Cumberbatch, renowned for his role as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has confirmed that his character will not be part of the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday. However, he teased that Doctor Strange will have a "central role" in the sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars.
In an interview with Variety, Cumberbatch accidentally let slip a spoiler, responding with a candid "f**k it" before delving deeper into his character's future. He revealed that Doctor Strange is pivotal to the overarching narrative of the MCU, saying, "He’s quite central to where things might go." Moreover, Cumberbatch hinted at the development of a third standalone Doctor Strange film, expressing enthusiasm about exploring further dimensions of the character. "They are very open to discussing where we go next," he said. "Who do you want to write and direct the next one? What part of the comic lore do you want to explore so that Strange can keep evolving? He’s a very rich character to play. He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities, so there’s potent stuff to mess about with."
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Regarding his absence from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that it's due to "the character not aligning with this part of the story." The film, set to star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly featuring Chris Evans, is shrouded in mystery, with little known about its plot. The Russo Brothers, former directors of the Avengers series, are at the helm, and the movie is expected to delve deeper into the multiverse, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also rumored to appear.
Phase 6 of the MCU will commence with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.
