It seems Doctor Strange will be taking a break from the Multiverse of Madness and sitting out Avengers: Doomsday, but fear not, for Benedict Cumberbatch assures us he’ll play a “central” role in Avengers: Secret Wars.
In a recent interview with Variety, the actor offered insight into his character’s future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While Doctor Strange has played pivotal roles in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, fans shouldn’t expect to see him in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which will reintroduce Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU in a surprising twist as Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man.

“Is that a spoiler? F— it!” Cumberbatch joked during the interview. However, his absence won’t last long. He confirmed his character would be “in a lot” of Avengers: Secret Wars, which follows Doomsday. “He’s quite central to where things might go,” Cumberbatch said.
His absence from Avengers: Doomsday is attributed to “the character not aligning with this part of the story”, according to Cumberbatch. Directed by the Russo Brothers, Doomsday will reportedly continue Marvel’s multiverse narratives and feature Hayley Atwell’s Agent Carter alongside Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Chris Evans is also rumoured to make an appearance, though additional details about the plot remain under wraps.
Meanwhile, Doctor Strange’s importance in Secret Wars aligns with Marvel’s 2015 comic series of the same name, created by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic. In the comic, Marvel’s multiverse faces destruction at the hands of the Beyonders, leaving survivors to navigate life on a fragmented world called Battleworld. Overseen by Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange, the two characters share significant screen time in the source material. While the cinematic adaptation will undoubtedly take creative liberties, Strange’s prominence in the story remains consistent with the comics.

Cumberbatch also hinted at plans for a third solo Doctor Strange film following the success of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which earned nearly US$1 billion globally. Although plot details remain sparse, the actor confirmed Marvel’s willingness to collaborate on creative directions for the character. “They are very open to discussing where we go next,” he said, adding, “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.”
Looking ahead, Phase 6 of the MCU will begin with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to release in July 2025. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for 1 May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on 7 May 2027. With Doctor Strange poised to play a significant role in the latter, fans can anticipate an exciting chapter for the Sorcerer Supreme.