Fans hoping to see Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will have to wait a little longer to witness his return to the big screen. While MCU’s previous plans included the actor, the new ones reportedly do not.
Cumberbatch himself claims that his character has no place in the upcoming phase 6 Avengers films.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Will Have Pivotal Role In The MCU
In a recent interview with Variety, the actor confirmed that the Sorcerer Supreme wouldn’t be joining Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in their fight against the MCU’s new central antagonist, Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. While Doctor Strange’s absence from the upcoming film might surprise some, it aligns with the character’s trajectory following ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’.
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That movie left Stephen Strange in a precarious position after battling the Scarlet Witch and reckoning with the multiverse’s chaotic consequences. His journey ended with an ominous encounter with Clea teasing further explorations into dark dimensions.
Though Doctor Strange won’t join the fight in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, Cumberbatch has assured fans that he’ll be back for ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. This aligns with the MCU’s larger narrative structure, where characters often take a brief hiatus before returning with significant roles.
For now, the focus remains on assembling a team to take on Doctor Doom. The upcoming Avengers films, directed by the Russo Brothers, will continue the legacy they began with ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’. However, the absence of Doctor Strange in ‘Doomsday’ is still a huge risk.
Benedict Cumberbatch On Marvel’s Inclusive Creative Process
While ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ won’t feature the Sorcerer Supreme, Benedict Cumberbatch offered an exciting glimpse into Doctor Strange’s future. During the interview, he confirmed that Marvel Studios is already in talks with him about a third solo film. Additionally, he further hinted at creative discussions regarding the films being very open.
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“They are very open to discussing where we go next. ‘Who do you want to write and direct the next one?’ ‘What part of the comic lore do you want to explore?’” he explained. Cumberbatch describes Starand as “a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities,” emphasizing the endless possibilities for character growth.
Moreover, there’s no shortage of comic material to draw from for ‘Doctor Strange 3’. The introduction of Clea and the multiverse’s continued instability leaves room for darker, more experimental storytelling. Beyond his solo adventures, Cumberbatch hinted at Strange’s importance to the MCU’s broader narrative.
He believes it is “quite central to where things might go.” Additionally, his enthusiasm for the character is evident. “Even when we make one of these Avengers films and it gets exponentially huger, we’re still just kids playing in the sandpit,” he said. “We’re still just making sh*t up and having fun with it.”
