The Marvel Cinematic Universe has exciting years ahead of it. Fans eagerly count the days to see Peter Parker swing back onto the big screen and cross paths with the Punisher and Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Furthermore, the devil of Hell's Kitchen is more ready than ever to make criminals pay for their sins courtesy of Daredevil: Born Again season 2. But the two cherries on top of the cake are undeniably Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Earth's Mightiest Heroes' upcoming adventures will not only introduce many exciting characters to the MCU—such as Doctor Doom and the X-Men—but they will also change the ongoing story that has been built up for almost 17 years now. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that a soft reboot will happen after Secret Wars, which is why little has been said about what will happen afterward.
So far, it has been confirmed that the X-Men will have their own stand-alone film (potentially in 2028), while rumor has it that Blade will be released as part of the MCU's next phase. Aside from that, we have next to no information regarding any future projects. Fortunately, our days of living in the dark might've come to an end thanks to a new report.
Doctor Strange 3 is reportedly in the works at Marvel; a new director is set to take over
It appears Stephen Strange has a new chance to become the Sorcerer Supreme. According to a report by Nexus Point News, Doctor Strange 3 is now in early development. The movie is set to begin production after the release of Avengers: Secret Wars, and Marvel is looking to replace director Sam Raimi and writer Michael Waldron, who worked on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While no new names are set in stone yet, Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch is interested in Sam Mendes helming the film, though he is currently busy working on four Beatles movies.
Despite receiving a mixed critical reception, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness earned over $950 million at the box office, all but guaranteeing a follow-up. Furthermore, Stephen Strange has become one of the main faces of the MCU, especially now that other heavy hitters like Steve Rogers and Iron Man are gone.
The soon-to-be Sorcerer Supreme had a major role in Avengers: Infinity War, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and What If...?, while also having cameos in projects such as Thor: Ragnarok. Fans had already suspected the hero would have a trilogy of his own due to his overall importance and popularity, and it seems that will fortunately be the case.
Even though Strange has become an MCU staple, there's no denying that Disney has barely scratched the surface when it comes to his ongoing arc. Audiences have yet to see him earn the title of Sorcerer Supreme or team up with the Midnight Sons. Furthermore, he hasn't fought against iconic villains such as Nightmare, and let's not forget that the Mordo tease in the first Doctor Strange movie has yet to lead anywhere. With a bit of luck, most of these loose ends can be tied up in the hero's next stand-alone adventure.
When Scott Derrickson was still attached to direct Doctor Strange 2, he wanted the project to dive into the horror genre. Multiverse of Madness certainly toyed around with that idea, even if it was released under a new direction. However, the movie still had a PG-13 rating and failed to deliver many scary moments (aside from a few Wanda jump scares). With that in mind, there's a chance that Marvel might try to make up for these mistakes in the trilogy-capper.
The MCU's next phase is reported to dive into supernatural themes, characters, and crossovers. Furthermore, an adaptation of the Damnation comic book storyline is reportedly in the works, while it has been rumored for a long time that the Midnight Sons are finally coming. With that in mind, there's not only a chance that Doctor Strange 3 ends up being a proper horror movie, but that its storyline ties into a bigger crossover with other characters such as Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, and even Mephisto.
While Doctor Strange 3 hasn't been officially confirmed just yet, all signs would indicate that the movie will eventually come our way. Besides, chances are that Stephen Strange will suit up and save the day during the events of Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars (perhaps even both). So, all things considered, it seems our favorite sorcerer has a bright future ahead of him, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on Dec. 18, 2026.