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Marvel Star Benedict Cumberbatch Says Doctor Strange Is Skipping Avengers Doomsday But Is a 'Central' Part of Secret Wars

by Jonathan Mar 05,2025

Benedict Cumberbatch reveals Doctor Strange's pivotal role in future MCU installments. While skipping Avengers: Doomsday, the Sorcerer Supreme will be "quite central" to the sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, according to Cumberbatch's interview with Variety. He even let slip a potential spoiler before playfully exclaiming "f*** it!"

Cumberbatch further hinted at a third standalone Doctor Strange film, expressing Marvel's openness to exploring the character's rich comic book lore. He highlighted the character's complexity and potential for further development: "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."

Upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Projects

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Cumberbatch explained Doctor Strange's absence from Avengers: Doomsday is due to a narrative mismatch. This upcoming Avengers film, helmed by the Russo Brothers, features Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans, continuing the multiverse storyline and potentially including Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter.

Phase 6 of the MCU begins with Fantastic Four: First Steps this July. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.

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