The event to end all events for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is coming. You know we're talking about Avengers: Doomsday - the MCU movie that will kick off the final chapter in the franchise's ongoing Multiverse Saga. It's the big one, the endgame of this story, and it's set to feature some larger-than-life faces.
The Multiverse Saga began back in 2021 when WandaVision introduced us to a new type of MCU storytelling via the Disney Plus streaming platform. It was a welcome way to get new installments from the most famous franchise in the world directly to our TVs during a time when there weren't any cinematic releases. But the cinematic releases soon came, and the MCU crafted its most ambitious chapter yet, featuring star-studded casts and surprising plot developments. And now, it all comes together in Avengers: Doomsday.
All that being said, there was one major Marvel star who was previously expected to appear in the upcoming film, but the official, recent updates from Marvel Studios themselves suggest that might not be the case. Naturally, fans are wondering what happened and why he was seemingly removed from it. Now, the star himself has addressed this.
Benedict Cumberbatch addresses rumors about Doctor Strange's removal from Avengers: Doomsday after cast announcement absence
Will Doctor Strange appear in Avengers: Doomsday? That's one of the biggest questions Marvel fans have had about the upcoming MCU movie... and they have gotten multiple answers to it over the past few months. Perhaps no answer was quite as loud as the cast announcement for the film, which involved a five-hour livestream reveal of 27 cast members that would definitely appear in the film. Among them were classic Marvel stars, new Marvel stars, and even some X-Men stars. But one MCU star who wasn't among them was Benedict Cumberbatch.
This naturally left fans very confused about Cumberbatch's status in the movie as the actor had given multiple answers about whether he would be involved in it. After initially confirming that he would be appearing in the fifth Avengers movie (which was formerly titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty), he revealed that script overhauls that led to the film becoming Avengers: Doomsday meant that he actually wouldn't appear in the film as he had a significant role in the sequel instead (2027's Avengers: Secret Wars). He then reversed course with the confirmation that he would actually be involved in Doomsday, telling Business Insider that "I am in that one", only for the cast announcement to seemingly reveal that he wouldn't be. Talk about Multiverse of Madness, right?!
However, the man himself is ensuring that fans keep an open mind about Strange's involvement. Speaking with Omelete (via Avengers Updates on X), Cumberbatch seemingly teased that he might still be involved, saying: "Who knows? Maybe they just didn’t have enough chairs."
While Cumberbatch's comments could be read as playful deflection to ensure that we don't know whether Doctor Strange will show up in the film until it actually arrives in theaters, it could also allude to the possibility that the film's cast is much larger than the initial casting announcement implied. After all, both Marvel Studios and Robert Downey Jr. have alluded to there being even more surprises than the livestream revealed, and that could involve more returning faces.
Furthermore, there have been rumors of a second cast announcement at some point prior to the film's release next Christmas. Perhaps Doctor Strange will be among those returnees?
How Doctor Strange could still be involved in Avengers: Doomsday
Whether Doctor Strange plays a major role in Avengers: Doomsday or not, he is expected to have some kind of involvement. The film is set to serve as the beginning of the Multiverse Saga's culmination, as Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly capitalizes on a potential incursion that could bring about the end of the Multiverse. Well, Doctor Strange was involved in one of the Multiverse Saga's most important movies Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and actually went on a mission with Clea in the film's post-credits scenes to fix an incursion that he seemingly caused.
So, why hasn't the former Sorcerer Supreme been confirmed among the characters to have a role in the film? Perhaps Marvel Studios is saving another batch of actors to announce at a later date, or perhaps that's because he's set to appear in the movie without actually being involved in the majority of the plot. If he is set to have a major role in the sequel, then it would make sense for him to appear in the post-credits scene. If the film does end on the cliffhanger that it's expected to, then there might need to be a savior to give audiences hope throughout the year-long wait for Secret Wars. And with that, maybe Strange could fulfil that role.
As it stands, it's looking like the main characters in Avengers: Doomsday are going to be the New Avengers (formerly known as the Thunderbolts), the reunited classic Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men as they all battle a threat that they are seemingly not familiar with. That could be where Doctor Strange comes in, complete with knowledge of multiverses and incursions after his trip into the Dark Dimension, in a bid to help restore the balance.
Remember, Marvel has an untitled film set to release on July 23, 2027 - coming out between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. We don't yet know what it is, but if it were to be Doctor Strange 3, that might explain where he is during the events of the first movie while also setting the stage for the ultimate, multiversal battle in Avengers: Secret Wars. And as that coveted between-Avengers movies slot worked wonders for Captain Marvel in 2019, Marvel might be eager to recreate that success with Doctor Strange 3. If so, Strange could serve as the Multiverse Saga's Captain Marvel, offering fans hope between the two Avengers movies while also starring in his own in between. We can dream, right?!
All in all, it's likely that Marvel is saving the surprise of Doctor Strange's involvement in Avengers: Doomsday. Cumberbatch's most recent comments certainly support that as he hasn't denied his involvement. And with that in mind, it's probably safe to assume that Doctor Strange has not been removed from the current draft of the film like the star previously thought. The former Sorcerer Supreme might be the hero that even the Avengers need right now.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.