Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on Marvel Future

In a surprising turn of events, Benedict Cumberbatch, known for his role as Doctor Strange, recently spilled all the beans on the upcoming Marvel projects, including Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday. He even touched on the future of the MCU and the integration of the X-Men era post-Secret Wars. Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige must be ecstatic about this unexpected reveal.

Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence in Doomsday

There's a buzz around the rumor mill that Doctor Strange won't be featured in Avengers: Doomsday. This has sparked discussions about whether it's a mere conspiracy theory or a strategic move by Marvel. Some speculate that Marvel might have encouraged Cumberbatch to share these details to divert attention from other less favorable news, such as the ongoing discussions around Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, or the challenges faced with Captain America: Brave New World.

Cumberbatch confirmed significant changes in the MCU storyline following the departure of Jonathan Majors. Avengers 5, initially titled Kang Dynasty, has now been renamed Doomsday, with Robert Downey Jr. making a return. This shift has led to a reimagined plot focusing more on Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four, moving away from the original Kang-centric narrative.

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Fans were hoping for a Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange team-up, reminiscent of the comic book storyline "Triumph and Torment." However, with Downey's role potentially concluding after Secret Wars, the storyline might take a completely different direction.

Doctor Strange's Role in Avengers: Doomsday

Cumberbatch clarified that Doctor Strange's absence from Doomsday is due to the character's misalignment with the new storyline. Originally, Strange was meant to play a larger role in the Kang Dynasty plot, which would have included Shang-Chi as a main character, focusing on the Council of Kangs. However, the revised Doomsday plot now introduces Victor Von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr.

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This change seems to confirm theories about Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings of Power. The rings' connection to Kang's time ship in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hinted at a deeper link, which now appears to have been altered with the new direction of the MCU.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man

Avengers: Doomsday will revolve around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, directly leading into the narrative from the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. This setup suggests a significant post-credits scene, similar to Thor: Ragnarok, which would transition into Doomsday.

Kevin Feige's concept of "anchor beings" introduced in Deadpool & Wolverine plays a crucial role here. While Feige hinted that the MCU's anchor being is still alive, ruling out Iron Man, Cumberbatch's comments suggest that Spider-Man might be this pivotal character. The original plot hinted at a magical showdown between Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom, but with Strange's absence, Spider-Man could be the new focus.

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Both versions of Avengers 5, whether Kang Dynasty or Doomsday, seem to adapt the "Time Runs Out" storyline, culminating in the multiverse collapsing into Battle World, setting the stage for Secret Wars. Here, Robert Downey Jr. might portray a version of Doctor Doom, aiming to save yet ultimately rule the multiverse as God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars

Secret Wars was always planned as a multiverse film, bringing together legacy actors to form a multiverse Avengers team, effectively soft-rebooting the MCU. Cumberbatch's revelations suggest a significant shift in the lineup for Secret Wars, with many MCU characters perishing and the narrative focusing on survivors and legacy actors from pre-MCU films.

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Shang-Chi's role in Doomsday has been downgraded, which is disappointing for fans awaiting his sequel. Cumberbatch's candid comments also touched on the potential return of X-Men characters, including Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, and even classic Fantastic Four actors, akin to a larger-scale Deadpool & Wolverine.

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The Future of MCU and Doctor Strange

Looking beyond Secret Wars, Cumberbatch hinted at Doctor Strange's central role in the upcoming X-Men era of the MCU. This could involve Strange in X-Men-centric stories, as seen in X-Men '97.

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Cumberbatch's enthusiasm suggests he views Doctor Strange as the new linchpin of the MCU, especially with the upcoming Phase 7 and potential Avengers vs. X-Men storylines. As for Doctor Strange 3, originally planned to lead into Kang Dynasty, the film's release might now be delayed until after Secret Wars, shifting its focus to X-Men-related magic and possibly a classic Defenders or Midnight Suns storyline.

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With no script finalized yet, the possibilities for Doctor Strange 3 are wide open, potentially including a Midnight Suns team-up featuring characters like Moon Knight and even a return of Ghost Rider, as hinted by Ryan Reynolds.

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Thanks to Cumberbatch's spoiler-filled interview, fans have a clearer picture of the MCU's future, filled with exciting possibilities and new directions.