Benedict Cumberbatch Backtracks and Says Doctor Strange Is in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY After All

Benedict Cumberbatch recently sent Marvel fans into a little frenzy when he suggested that Doctor Strange wouldn’t be part of Avengers: Doomsday. Well, now he’s saying the exact opposite.

It all started when Cumberbatch said that Stephen Strange wouldn't be in the upcoming next Avengers film, saying: "Is that a spoiler? F** it!"* he said. "The character [was] not aligning with this part of the story."

His comment made sense as the direction of the MCU shifted after Jonathan Majors' firing, with the next Avengers movie now focusing on Doctor Doom instead of Kang.

However, when the actor was talking to Business Insider at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of his new film The Thing With Feathers, they asked if Marvel had given him a stern email after his slip-up.

His response? "I got that wrong, I am in the next one. Don't ever believe anything I say."

So, either Cumberbatch genuinely initially misspoke, or Marvel gave him a little nudge to set the record straight? Either way, it looks like Doctor Strange will be in Avengers: Doomsday.

Beyond that, Cumberbatch also confirmed that Doctor Strange 3 is in development, and Sam Raimi is reportedly set to direct it. Marvel is giving Comberbatch a say in its direction:

"He’s quite central to where things might go. They are very open to discussing where we go next. 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?"

Doctor Strange’s MCU journey is clearly far from over and it will be fun to see where the journey takes him

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.