Benedict Cumberbatch reveals Doctor Strange's pivotal role in the MCU's future, while confirming his absence from Avengers: Doomsday. In a recent interview with Variety, Cumberbatch playfully admitted to spoiling some details, stating that Doctor Strange will be "quite central" to the events of Avengers: Secret Wars. He also hinted at a third standalone Doctor Strange film in development.
Cumberbatch emphasized the character's rich potential for future exploration, highlighting Doctor Strange's complex and contradictory nature: "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." The actor expressed openness to collaborating with various writers and directors to further develop the character's arc.
Regarding Doctor Strange's omission from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that the character's storyline simply doesn't align with the film's narrative. Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release May 1, 2026, will reportedly star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and Chris Evans, with the Russo Brothers directing. The film is expected to continue the multiverse storyline, potentially featuring Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter.
The MCU's Phase 6 begins with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, followed by Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars on May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively.
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