Benedict Cumberbatch Confirms Doctor Strange's Absence from Avengers Doomsday, Central to Secret Wars

Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Doctor Strange, recently shared intriguing details about his character's trajectory in the upcoming Avengers films. In a candid interview with Variety, Cumberbatch inadvertently dropped a major spoiler: Doctor Strange will be absent from the next big team-up, Avengers Doomsday, but will take on a "central role" in its sequel, Avengers Secret Wars. His spontaneous reaction, "f\*\*k it," after realizing his slip-up, added a humorous touch to the revelation.

Cumberbatch elaborated on Doctor Strange's significance in the MCU, stating, "He’s quite central to where things might go," hinting at the character's pivotal involvement in future storylines. Moreover, he confirmed the development of a third standalone Doctor Strange film, expressing enthusiasm about exploring new facets of the character. "They are very open to discussing where we go next," Cumberbatch noted, emphasizing the creative freedom he enjoys in shaping Doctor Strange's narrative. He highlighted the character's complexity and the potential to delve deeper into comic lore, ensuring Doctor Strange's continued evolution.

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Regarding his absence from Avengers Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained it stems from "the character not aligning with this part of the story." This upcoming Avengers film will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and is rumored to include Chris Evans as well, though details remain scarce. The Russo Brothers, former directors of Avengers films, are helming this project, which will continue the multiverse theme with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter reportedly making an appearance.

In the immediate future, Phase 6 of the MCU begins with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to release this July. Avengers Doomsday is slated for May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. As the MCU continues to expand, fans can look forward to seeing how Doctor Strange's role evolves within this expansive universe.