Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on Marvel Future

Benedict Cumberbatch spilled the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even offering a glimpse into the subsequent X-Men era. Marvel and Kevin Feige must have had mixed reactions.

Table of Contents

• Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday
• Spider-Man, Not Iron Man?
• Secret Wars
• The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange 3

Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

Likely not a conspiracy. Marvel likely orchestrated the interview to strategically release information, deflecting attention from controversies surrounding projects like Captain America: Brave New World and the Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively situation.

Cumberbatch confirmed details about both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, revealing plot changes since Jonathan Majors' dismissal. Avengers 5 (originally Kang Dynasty) is now Doomsday, and Robert Downey Jr. is back. My hope for a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up like in Triumph and Torment seems dashed, as Downey Jr.'s involvement appears limited post-Secret Wars.

Doctor Strange's absence from Doomsday is explained by his character not originally fitting the revised storyline. He was intended for a larger role in the original Kang Dynasty. The initial Avengers 5 plan, under the Kang Dynasty title, featured Shang-Chi prominently. The MCU's overhaul introduced Victor Von Doom and Robert Downey Jr.

This seemingly confirms theories about Shang-Chi's Ten Rings, linking them to Kang following observations in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man?

Avengers: Doomsday centers around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leading directly into Secret Wars. A post-credits scene, similar to Thor: Ragnarok's setup for Infinity War, will likely bridge Doomsday and Secret Wars. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" in Deadpool and Wolverine hints that Iron Man isn't the MCU's central figure. The theory posits Spider-Man as the anchor being, potentially facing Doctor Doom.

Both Kang Dynasty and Doomsday versions seem to adapt the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a battle-world scenario as depicted in Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will attempt to save the multiverse, eventually becoming the antagonist—God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars

Secret Wars will be a multiverse film featuring legacy actors, creating a multiverse Avengers team. Marvel is essentially soft-rebooting the MCU. Cumberbatch's revelations highlighted Shang-Chi's downgraded role in Doomsday.

Doctor Strange was originally slated to survive the multiverse's destruction in Secret Wars, alongside a few MCU characters and many legacy actors. The scale will be similar to Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially including X-Men, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Venom, and classic Fantastic Four actors.

The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch hinted at Doctor Strange's central role in the MCU's X-Men era, potentially involving him in X-Men-related storylines. He also teased Doctor Strange 3, initially planned for release before Kang Dynasty. The film's plot will need significant alterations due to the shifted timeline.

Doctor Strange 3 might now release after Secret Wars, potentially incorporating more X-Men magic characters or even a classic Defenders storyline, perhaps even a Midnight Suns team-up. The possibilities are endless, thanks to Cumberbatch's unexpected revelations.