Benedict Cumberbatch: Doctor Strange Absent from Avengers Doomsday, Central to Secret Wars

Benedict Cumberbatch, renowned for his portrayal of Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), recently confirmed that his character will not be part of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. However, fans can look forward to seeing Doctor Strange take on a "central role" in the subsequent film, Avengers: Secret Wars.

In an interview with Variety, Cumberbatch inadvertently let slip this major spoiler and humorously exclaimed "f**k it" before elaborating further on his character's future in the MCU. He teased that Doctor Strange is pivotal to the unfolding narrative, stating, "He’s quite central to where things might go." Additionally, Cumberbatch revealed exciting news about a third standalone Doctor Strange film in the works. He expressed enthusiasm about the creative discussions surrounding the next installment, emphasizing the desire to delve deeper into the comic lore to keep the character evolving. "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," Cumberbatch noted.

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Regarding his absence from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that it stems from "the character not aligning with this part of the story." This next Avengers installment, set to release on May 1, 2026, will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans as well. Directed by the Russo Brothers, the film is expected to continue exploring the multiverse, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also set to make an appearance.

Before Avengers: Doomsday, Phase 6 of the MCU will commence with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July. Following Doomsday, fans can anticipate Avengers: Secret Wars, slated for a May 7, 2027 release, where Doctor Strange will play a significant role.