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

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 history. He highlighted the character's complexity and potential for further development, stating, "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 his absence from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that the character's arc simply didn't align with that particular storyline. This upcoming film, directed by the Russo Brothers, will reportedly star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and Chris Evans, continuing the multiverse narrative and potentially featuring Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter.

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Upcoming Films and TV Shows

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The MCU's Phase 6 commences 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.