"Benedict Cumberbatch: Doctor Strange Absent from Avengers Doomsday, Key in Secret Wars"

Benedict Cumberbatch recently shared some exciting news about his character, Doctor Strange, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In a candid interview with Variety, Cumberbatch revealed that Doctor Strange will not be part of the upcoming blockbuster, Avengers Doomsday, but fans can look forward to seeing him in a "central role" in the sequel, Avengers Secret Wars. In a moment of spontaneity, Cumberbatch exclaimed "f\*\*k it" after realizing he had dropped a significant spoiler, going on to tease that Doctor Strange will be pivotal to the unfolding narrative. He also hinted at the possibility of a third standalone Doctor Strange film, expressing enthusiasm about exploring further aspects of the character's rich comic lore.

"They are very open to discussing where we go next," Cumberbatch said. "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."

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Regarding his absence from Avengers Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that it's due to "the character not aligning with this part of the story." This next Avengers film will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans as well, though details remain scarce. The film is being helmed by the Russo Brothers, who are known for their work on previous Avengers movies, and it will continue the multiverse theme with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also set to appear.

In the near future, Phase 6 of the MCU will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July. Avengers Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. Fans of the MCU have much to look forward to as the universe continues to expand and evolve.