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, while initially dropping a spoiler, clarified that Doctor Strange will be "quite central" to the events of Avengers: Secret Wars. He even hinted at a third standalone Doctor Strange film in development.
Cumberbatch elaborated on the character's ongoing evolution and the creative possibilities: "They are very open to discussing where we go next... 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."
Regarding Doctor Strange's omission from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained the decision as a matter of narrative alignment: "the character not aligning with this part of the story." 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 and continuing the multiverse storyline. Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter is also rumored to appear.
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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