Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that his Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Doctor Strange, will be absent from Avengers: Doomsday, but will play a "central role" in its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars.

In an interview with Variety, Cumberbatch, after initially letting slip a spoiler with an expletive, elaborated on Doctor Strange's involvement. He stated that the character is "quite central to where things might go," and also confirmed plans for a third standalone Doctor Strange film. He expressed enthusiasm for the future of the character, noting the potential for exploration of the rich comic book lore and the character's complex personality: "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 Doctor Strange's omission from Avengers: Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that it's due to "the character not aligning with this part of the story." This upcoming Avengers installment will star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans, though plot details remain scarce. The Russo Brothers are directing, and the film is expected to continue the multiverse storyline, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also rumored to appear.

Phase 6 of the MCU begins 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.

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

18 Images