Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Doctor Strange, recently shared some intriguing insights about his character's future in the franchise. In a candid interview with Variety, Cumberbatch revealed that Doctor Strange will not be part of the upcoming Avengers film, titled "Avengers Doomsday." However, fans can look forward to seeing the sorcerer supreme take on a "central role" in the sequel, "Avengers Secret Wars."
During the interview, Cumberbatch humorously exclaimed "f**k it" after accidentally dropping a spoiler about his character's absence from "Avengers Doomsday." He further elaborated on Doctor Strange's significance in the MCU, saying, "He’s quite central to where things might go." Excitingly, Cumberbatch also confirmed plans for a third standalone Doctor Strange movie, highlighting the open discussions about its direction, potential writers, and directors, as well as which aspects of the comic lore to explore next.
"They are very open to discussing where we go next," Cumberbatch explained. "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 character's absence from "Avengers Doomsday," Cumberbatch explained it's due to "the character not aligning with this part of the story." This upcoming Avengers installment will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans as well, though details remain scarce. The film will be directed by the former Avengers directors, the Russo Brothers, and will continue to delve into the multiverse, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also set to appear.
Looking ahead, Phase 6 of the MCU will kick off 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, where Doctor Strange is set to play a pivotal role.
