After Benedict Cumberbatch's Recent Avengers: Doomsday Comments Saying Doctor Strange Is In The MCU Movie After All, I'm Suspicious About What That Means

By Felipe Rangel

Published Feb 3, 2025

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Benedict Cumberbatch's recent Doctor Strange comments make me believe that Avengers: Doomsday's cast would be headlined by Cumberbatch, with Doctor Strange leading the Avengers.

There are a few reasons that make Doctor Strange the perfect leader for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The character already has Avengers experience, being crucial to the team's victory against Thanos. Adding to it is the fact that Doctor Strange's multiversal knowledge can only be rivaled by perhaps Loki when it comes to other MCU heroes. Strange is also one of Marvel's most powerful characters, and with him leading the team, I think the Avengers movies could be just as exciting as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. However, Doctor Strange's role in them has been the source of confusion.

Benedict Cumberbatch Has Backtracked His Avengers: Doomsday Comments

Doctor Strange's Role In The MCU Movie Faces Conflicting Updates

Initially, Benedict Cumberbatch claimed he would be in Avengers: Doomsday and was excited to start filming the project this year. That cemented the character as the first confirmed hero for the MCU film. However, the past few weeks have turned into a roller coaster of emotions for Doctor Strange fans like me. Out of nowhere, Cumberbatch said that Doctor Strange would not appear in Avengers: Doomsday. According to the actor, Strange no longer aligns with the movie's story after Kang the Conqueror was replaced by Doctor Doom, but he would be central to Avengers: Secret Wars.

Tom Hiddleston's Loki as the God of Time next to Robert Downey Jr. announcing he is Doctor Doom

Every Confirmed Cast Member In Avengers: Doomsday (So Far)

Avengers: Doomsday looms closer and the confirmed cast set to star in the next MCU team-up movie are steadily emerging as weeks progress.

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However, merely one week later, Benedict Cumberbatch walked back his Avengers: Doomsday comments. The MCU actor revealed that he somehow got it wrong and that Doctor Strange will indeed be part of the movie. Interestingly, Cumberbatch also joked about the ordeal, saying, "Don't ever believe anything I say." With the next Avengers movie set to begin filming over the next few months, set photos and videos could confirm what stars will actually reprise their Marvel roles in Avengers: Doomsday. I have to say that Cumberbatch's conflicting Doctor Strange comments lead me to believe there is more at play here.

I Don’t Think Doctor Strange Is Really “In The Movie”

Benedict Cumberbatch Could Be Making A Calculated Move

What most intrigues me about Cumberbatch's conflicting comments is the reason he first shared why Doctor Strange would not be in Avengers: Doomsday. With Marvel already having spent many months on the movie's script, I don't think Cumberbatch could get something like saying Doctor Strange does not align with the film's story wrong. As such, I think there are two possible explanations for his comments. The first is that the actor is copying Andrew Garfield's method of denying he would return as Spider-Man, only to do so. Cumberbatch could be putting out mixed signals to keep surprises locked away.

Every MCU Avengers Movie
Movie	Release Date
The Avengers	2012
Avengers: Age of Ultron	2015
Avengers: Infinity War	2018
Avengers: Endgame	2019
Avengers: Doomsday	2026
Avengers: Secret Wars	2027

The second theory, and the one I believe the most, is that Cumberbatch told the truth about Doctor Strange not playing a role in Avengers: Doomsday's story. However, Marvel asked him to change his comments due to how the character could still technically be in the film. By appearing in a post-credits scene after Avengers: Doomsday is over, the Marvel hero would technically be seen in theaters when audiences show up for the MCU movie while not being an active part of it at the same time. Based on Cumberbatch's initial comments, I think this option fits better.

Why Doctor Strange Making A Post-Credits Scene Appearance Makes More Sense

The MCU Needs To Finish A Doctor Strange Setup

Clea recruiting Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene set up a major storyline for the character in the MCU. Charlize Theron debuted as Clea, one of Strange's biggest love interests in the comics. The two were last seen going off to stop an incursion. Since Avengers: Secret Wars is going to be all about incursions, Doctor Strange's current mission could better tie into that film. As such, I think that by offering a peek at how Doctor Strange and Clea's mission is going through an Avengers: Doomsday post-credits scene, Marvel could keep Strange's MCU story focused on that plotline.

The new Avengers could rise, with Doctor Strange later appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars with a plan to save the multiverse and take down Doctor Doom. When Benedict Cumberbatch claimed he would not be in Avengers: Doomsday, the actor said that Doctor Strange would be central to the events of Avengers: Secret Wars. He also recently teased that talks about Doctor Strange 3 are happening. Since Clea is such a major character, her story with Strange would be perfect for a solo film that gives it the proper development before they return a year after Avengers: Doomsday in Secret Wars.