Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Doctor Strange, has confirmed that his character will not be part of the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday. However, fans can look forward to seeing Doctor Strange take on a "central role" in the sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars.

In an interview with Variety, Cumberbatch inadvertently dropped a spoiler, exclaiming "f**k it" before sharing more about Doctor Strange's future in the MCU. He hinted at the character's significance in the unfolding narrative, stating, "He’s quite central to where things might go." Additionally, Cumberbatch revealed that a third standalone Doctor Strange film is in the works, expressing excitement about the creative discussions surrounding the project. "They are very open to discussing where we go next," he said, emphasizing the rich and complex nature of the character. "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." The film, set to release on May 1, 2026, will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans as well, though details remain scarce. The Russo Brothers, former directors of the Avengers series, are at the helm, and the movie will continue to explore the multiverse, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also expected to appear.

Phase 6 of the MCU will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, leading up to Avengers: Doomsday and culminating with Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.