Benedict Cumberbatch has recently hinted at his return as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), causing speculation about his involvement in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie. Earlier this year, the actor suggested he would not appear in Doomsday but would reprise his role for the later MCU event, Secret Wars, stirring considerable debate among fans and insiders.
The actor revealed that changes in MCU’s storyline, specifically shifting focus from Kang the Conqueror to Doctor Doom following Jonathan Majors‘ departure, impacted Strange‘s role in the narrative. This pivot seemingly made Strange’s involvement in Doomsday less necessary.
Conflicting Statements from Cumberbatch Fuel Fan Speculation
After initially indicating that Doctor Strange would not be part of Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch has since retracted this, admitting confusion about his own involvement. Speaking with Business Insider at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of The Thing With Feathers, Cumberbatch acknowledged:
“I got that wrong, I am in the next one,”
—Benedict Cumberbatch, Actor
“Don’t ever believe anything I say.”
—Benedict Cumberbatch, Actor
This reversal has led to speculation that either Strange will appear in Doomsday after all or Cumberbatch is teasing fans, possibly after receiving guidance from Marvel Studios executives. When asked directly by Entertainment Tonight whether he would be suiting up as Doctor Strange in Doomsday, his evasive reply was:
“I wonder… I wonder, I wonder.”
—Benedict Cumberbatch, Actor
Doctor Strange’s Role Within the Multiverse and Potential Alliance with Doctor Doom
Rumors from industry sources, including Jeff Sneider, suggest that Doctor Strange may collaborate with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. The exact nature of Strange‘s role—whether the original Earth-616 version or an alternate multiversal variant—remains unclear. Doctor Doom is reportedly poised to exploit his resemblance to Tony Stark to maneuver through the multiverse alongside a group of villainous Avengers variants.
At the conclusion of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the character Clea, portrayed by Charlize Theron, recruits Strange to investigate multiversal incursions, highlighting the rising threats within the MCU. If Doctor Doom’s objective aligns with stopping these incursions, Strange and Doom might form an uneasy alliance, blurring traditional hero–villain boundaries.
Updates and Delays for the Key MCU Events
Both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars have experienced significant release delays, with Doomsday now scheduled for December 18, 2026, and Secret Wars following a year later on December 17, 2027. The Russo brothers will direct both blockbusters, marking their return to the MCU after their work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
On their renewed involvement, the Russo brothers expressed:
“Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a life-long dream of ours, and we discovered a powerful connection with audiences in each film that we made. We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with Kevin, Lou and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves.”
—The Russo Brothers, Directors
Ensemble Cast List for Avengers: Doomsday
The cast for Avengers: Doomsday features a vast and varied lineup of MCU characters, signaling a complex and expansive story. Below is the confirmed ensemble:
1. Paul Rudd as Ant-Man
2. Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
3. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
4. Lewis Pullman as Sentry
5. Florence Pugh as Yelena
6. Danny Ramirez as Falcon
7. Ian McKellen as Magneto
8. Sebastian Stan as Bucky
9. Winston Duke as M’Baku
10. Chris Hemsworth as Thor
11. Kelsey Grammer as Beast
12. James Marsden as Cyclops
13. Channing Tatum as Gambit
14. Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
15. Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm
16. Rebecca Romijn as Mystique
17. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
18. Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
19. Letitia Wright as Black Panther
20. Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor
21. Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards
22. Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
23. Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm
24. David Harbour as Red Guardian
25. Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
26. Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing
27. Anthony Mackie as Captain America
What Lies Ahead for Doctor Strange and the MCU
The ambiguity surrounding Benedict Cumberbatch Doctor Strange return fuels anticipation and debate among fans about the Sorcerer Supreme’s true fate within upcoming MCU storylines. Secret Wars, as a major event following Doomsday, is expected to springboard key multiverse plot points, potentially unveiling new variations of familiar characters.
Given the Russo brothers’ involvement and the extensive cast, these films will likely redefine the MCU‘s direction, deepening the multiversal conflicts introduced in earlier projects. Strange’s eventual role, whether as an ally or adversary to Doctor Doom, could have lasting implications for the entire franchise’s narrative landscape. Until more concrete details emerge, viewers remain on edge, eagerly awaiting how these revelations will unfold on the big screen.
