Benedict Cumberbatch has confirmed that his iconic character, Doctor Strange, will not be appearing in the next Avengers film, Doomsday. Despite this, Cumberbatch reassured fans that Doctor Strange has a significant role to play in the upcoming Secret Wars sequel, teasing a possible third solo movie for the character.
In a candid interview with Variety, Cumberbatch revealed that while Doctor Strange is not involved in the latest Avengers storyline, there is a lot of potential for his character’s future in the MCU. “He’s quite central to where things might go,” Cumberbatch shared, hinting at exciting developments ahead for the Sorcerer Supreme. He also expressed enthusiasm about exploring the character’s complexities in new ways. “He’s a very rich character to play,” he said. “He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities.”
While Doomsday will proceed without Doctor Strange, the actor teased that a third Doctor Strange movie could be on the horizon. “They are very open to discussing where we go next,” Cumberbatch added, suggesting that the future of the character could be tied to exciting new comic lore and evolving storylines.
In addition to his role in Secret Wars, Cumberbatch also joked about Robert Downey Jr.’s surprising return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. He humorously recounted texting Marvel boss Kevin Feige with the message, “What the fk?”
Meanwhile, the upcoming Avengers film is expected to see the return of several familiar faces, including Chris Evans—though it’s uncertain whether he will reprise his role as Captain America. Avengers directors Joe and Anthony Russo are set to return, despite previously stating that Endgame marked the conclusion of their involvement in the franchise.
As fans eagerly await Secret Wars, it seems the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to evolve, with plenty of twists and turns in store for Doctor Strange and the rest of the heroes.