Marvel Future's Secrets Exploded by Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch spilled the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even hinting at the MCU's X-Men era. Marvel likely orchestrated this leak, using strategic spoilers to distract from controversies surrounding Captain America: Brave New World and other projects.

Table of Contents:

• Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence
• Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the Anchor?
• Secret Wars: A Multiversal Endgame
• The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange

Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

It's unlikely Cumberbatch's revelations were accidental. Marvel likely encouraged the disclosures. His absence from Doomsday stems from story revisions following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. The film, originally Kang Dynasty, now centers on Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) and the Fantastic Four. Shang-Chi, initially a key character in Kang Dynasty, has a reduced role. This supports theories linking the Ten Rings to Kang, as seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the Anchor?

Avengers: Doomsday heavily features the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leading directly into Secret Wars. A post-credits scene will likely bridge Doomsday and Secret Wars. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in Deadpool and Wolverine) suggests Iron Man isn't the MCU's central figure. The theory is that Spider-Man fills this role, especially considering Doctor Doom's intended attempt to eliminate the anchor.

Secret Wars: A Multiversal Endgame

Secret Wars will be a multiversal film featuring legacy actors and a soft reboot of the MCU. The original plan involved a multiverse collapse, leaving few survivors. The current iteration seems more akin to a larger-scale Deadpool and Wolverine, including X-Men characters, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and potentially Venom and classic Fantastic Four actors.

The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch suggests Doctor Strange will be central to the MCU's X-Men era. This could involve X-Men-related storylines, building upon his appearance in X-Men '97. He hinted at significant changes to Doctor Strange 3, possibly delaying its release until after Secret Wars. The film's plot will likely shift from the original incursion-focused narrative to incorporate X-Men characters or a classic Defenders storyline, potentially even a Midnight Suns team-up, including Moon Knight and possibly Ghost Rider.