Benedict Cumberbatch recently made headlines by seemingly revealing major spoilers about *Avengers: Doomsday*, *Avengers: Secret Wars*, and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—including the upcoming X-Men era. While Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige are typically tight-lipped about upcoming storylines, Cumberbatch’s candid comments have sent shockwaves through the fan community. However, some speculate this wasn’t a genuine slip-up but a carefully orchestrated move by Marvel to control the narrative. In recent years, Marvel has been known to use tactical spoilers to shift public focus away from controversial topics—such as the Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds media storm or the lukewarm reception of *Captain America: Brave New World*.
Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange Isn’t in Doomsday
According to Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange will not appear in *Avengers: Doomsday*. While fans expected him to play a major role, especially following the multiverse saga, the actor clarified that Strange’s arc doesn’t align with the current direction of the film. Originally, *Avengers 5* was titled *The Kang Dynasty*, with a heavy focus on Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs. Shang-Chi was also expected to be a key player, tied to the mystery of the Ten Rings—especially after visual similarities were spotted between the rings in *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania* and Kang’s time ship.
However, after Jonathan Majors’ departure from the role, Marvel reworked the entire storyline. *The Kang Dynasty* was rebranded as *Avengers: Doomsday*, introducing Robert Downey Jr. as a new version of Victor Von Doom. This shift drastically altered character arcs, reducing Shang-Chi’s role and removing Doctor Strange from the main plot—though he may still appear in a post-credits scene to set up *Secret Wars*.
Spider-Man: Not the Iron Man
With Iron Man gone, fans have long debated who the new "anchor" of the MCU might be. Kevin Feige previously teased the concept of an "anchor being" during *Deadpool & Wolverine*, confirming the individual is still alive but refusing to name them. Many assumed it would be Doctor Strange, but his absence from *Doomsday* suggests otherwise. Instead, speculation now points to Spider-Man as the true anchor of the MCU.
*Avengers: Doomsday* is expected to center around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, drawing directly from the upcoming *Fantastic Four* film. A post-credits scene in that movie will likely serve as a direct lead-in to *Doomsday*, much like *Thor: Ragnarok* set up *Avengers: Infinity War*. The original plan may have featured a magical showdown between Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom, but with Strange sidelined, the narrative could pivot to a Spider-Man vs. Doom dynamic—especially if Peter Parker is indeed the multiversal anchor.
Secret Wars: A Multiverse Reboot
*Avengers: Secret Wars* is shaping up to be the most ambitious film in MCU history—a full soft reboot that merges multiple universes into one "Battle World." While earlier plans involved a multiversal collapse where most MCU heroes would perish, the current vision appears more in line with *Deadpool & Wolverine*, bringing back legacy actors from pre-MCU Marvel films. Think Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, classic *Fantastic Four* casts, and even Venom.
Cumberbatch revealed that Doctor Strange was originally meant to survive the multiversal destruction and play a key role in *Secret Wars*. Now, with the storyline retooled, Robert Downey Jr.’s version of Doctor Doom is expected to take center stage—possibly evolving into the God Emperor Doom, a heroic yet authoritarian figure trying to save what’s left of reality. This version of *Secret Wars* won’t just be an endpoint but a launching pad for a new era.
The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange
After *Secret Wars*, Marvel plans to usher in the X-Men era, and Cumberbatch strongly hinted that Doctor Strange will be central to this transition. His appearance in *X-Men ’97* already established a precedent for Strange’s involvement in mutant-related storylines. With the multiverse reset, Strange could become the bridge between the old MCU and the new X-Men-focused chapters.
As for *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 3*, the film has undergone major changes. Originally set to lead directly into *The Kang Dynasty*, it now may not release until after *Secret Wars*. The incursion plotline—once a key focus—has been overtaken by larger multiversal events. Without a finalized script, the direction of *Strange 3* remains open, but possibilities include a *Defenders*-style team-up or even a *Midnight Suns* adaptation featuring characters like Moon Knight and Ghost Rider. Nicholas Cage’s Ghost Rider was nearly brought back for *Deadpool & Wolverine*, so an MCU debut in *Strange 3* isn’t out of the question.
Thanks to Cumberbatch’s surprising revelations, fans now have a clearer, albeit unofficial, picture of Marvel’s grand plan. Whether this was a genuine leak or a strategic spoiler from Marvel itself, one thing is certain: the MCU is entering its most transformative phase yet.
