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Benedict Cumberbatch Backtracks, Says Doctor Strange Will Appear In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Benedict Cumberbatch recently walked back his earlier statement about Doctor Strange’s absence in Avengers: Doomsday, confirming that the Sorcerer Supreme will indeed be part of the upcoming Marvel blockbuster. When speaking with Business Insider, he admitted to initially getting it wrong, clarifying that he is, in fact, involved.

“I got that wrong, I am in the next one,” he admitted. However, when pressed about Marvel’s notorious secrecy and the possibility that his statement could be misleading, he jokingly added, “Don’t ever believe anything I say.”

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Benedict Cumberbatch Backtracks, Says Doctor Strange Will Appear In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Just a week prior, Cumberbatch stated that Doctor Strange would not appear in Avengers: Doomsday because the character’s storyline did not align with that chapter of the franchise. He emphasised that Strange would instead have a major role in Avengers: Secret Wars, the 2027 follow-up, describing him as central to the direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Originally planned as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the next Avengers installment underwent major changes after legal issues involving Jonathan Majors, who played Kang the Conqueror in previous projects. Rather than recasting the role, Marvel pivoted to a new storyline, bringing Robert Downey Jr. back in a villainous capacity. The reworked film was officially announced at SDCC, revealing the title change to Avengers: Doomsday and confirming Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom as the central antagonist.

Benedict Cumberbatch Backtracks, Says Doctor Strange Will Appear In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Beyond Avengers, Cumberbatch confirmed that discussions about Doctor Strange 3 are well underway. While keeping specifics under wraps, he described Marvel as being highly receptive to his input regarding the character’s next chapter. “They are very open to discussing where we go next,” he shared. “Who do you want to write and direct the next one? What part of the comic lore do you want to explore so that Strange can keep 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.”

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit cinemas on 1 May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on 7 May 2027.