I’m not worried about Benedict Cumberbatch’sAvengers: Doomsdaycomments thanks to the two highest-grossing MCU movies.Avengers: Doomsday’s release dateis just over a year away, meaning more information about the highly anticipated movie is being revealed. Not only have members ofAvengers: Doomsday’s castbeen divulged - from Robert Downey Jr. to Chris Evans - but details on the script-writing process and production timeline for the upcoming movie have also been unveiled.
These aspects have only caused excitement for theupcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movieto increase, as audiences eagerly anticipate a return to the big screen for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. With theMarvel movies of 2025expected to tee up the next roster of heroes on the team, one iconic MCU character will seemingly not be part of the movie. Benedict Cumberbatch recently explained his role inAvengers: Doomsday, but Marvel’s history with handling big ensemble casts inAvengersmovies means I am not worried.
Benedict Cumberbatch Reveals Doctor Strange’s Roles In Doomsday & Secret Wars
The Iconic Sorcerer Will Only Be Part Of The Latter
Firstly, it is worth exploring exactly what Cumberbatch revealed about his role inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. The actor was recently interviewed byVarietyand spoke about many aspects of his recent and upcoming career, including his continued role as Stephen Strange in the MCU. When concerningAvengers: Doomsdayand its sequelstory ofAvengers: Secret Wars, Cumberbatch let slip a few details about the titular team members. In the interview,Cumberbatch revealed that Strange will not be part ofAvengers: Doomsday, following up with"Is that a spoiler? F*** it!"
RegardingAvengers: Secret Wars, though, Cumberbatch insists that the Master of the Mystic Arts is a big part of the 2027 film…
The actor goes on to confirm that Strange’s absence fromAvengers: Doomsdaycame as a result ofJonathan Majors' assault chargesand the changes that were made toAvengers: The Kang Dynastyas a result. Moving away from the Kang the Conqueror story sawAvengers 5shift toward Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, with Cumberbatch confirming that Strange did not align with this part of the story. RegardingAvengers: Secret Wars, though, Cumberbatch insists that the Master of the Mystic Arts is a big part of the 2027 film, stating“He’s quite central to where things might go."
Avengers: Infinity War & Avengers: Endgame Proved How Missing Heroes Can Work
The Russo Brothers Know How To Balance A Cast
Although Cumberbatch’s absence fromAvengers: Doomsdayas Stephen Strange may come as a shock to many given his centrality to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I am not worried about it for a few reasons. For one, theRusso Brothers are directingAvengers 5&6. The Russos have been known to direct the best-ranked movies in the entire MCU, most of which have handled huge, ensemble casts.Avengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgametypified this, with both still being beloved installments of the franchise despite several characters disappearing and reappearing between the stories.
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For example, two big characters missing fromAvengers: Infinity Warwere Hawkeye and Ant-Man. Nonetheless, they returned in big ways inAvengers: Endgame, with both being integral to the overall plot thanks to the Time Heist of retrieving the Infinity Stones. Beyond that,Avengers: Endgamefeatured a drastically reduced cast as a result of Thanos' Blip, even causing someone huge like Doctor Strange to be missing for 95% of the movie. These choices still worked and allowed the two-partAvengersstory to be satisfying despite some characters taking a back seat at certain points.
In light of Cumberbatch’s comments, it seems as thoughAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Infinity Warare utilizing a similar format. I have trust in the Russo Brothers to be able to handle this task once more, as their track record has given me no evidence to suggest they will fumble characters and their MCU arcs. Moreover, Cumberbatch’s absence fromAvengers: Doomsdaycould - ironically - give Doctor Strange more time to shine.
Doctor Strange’s Absence From Avengers: Doomsday Has Another Exciting Possibility
A Third Strange Solo Movie Is In The Works
This time to shine could come inDoctor Strange 3. Many have been awaiting updates about a final film in theStrangetrilogy since 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with Cumberbatch providing this in the aforementionedVarietyinterview. Cumberbatch praised Marvel’s willingness to explore a thirdDoctor Strangemovie, from asking the actor where he wants the character to go, which director he would like to helm the project, and which comic book stories they could pull from. With Cumberbatch not part ofAvengers: Doomsday, Doctor Strange 3could become a priority.
Theoretically,Doctor Strange 3could even be scheduled in the year-long gap betweenAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. This would allow the film to tell its own, contained story that potentially spins out ofDoctor Strange 2’s post-credit sceneinvolving Charlize Theron’s Clea, all while setting up Strange’s role inAvengers: Secret Wars, just asAnt-Man and the Waspdid for the former character’s role inAvengers: Endgame. Evidently, there are a great many possibilities for Strange’s MCU future beyondAvengers: Doomsdayand, for many reasons, I have trust in Marvel Studios to fulfill that potential.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
