Benedict Cumberbatch’s Reported AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Role Is a Wild Marvel Twist
Marvel hasn’t officially announced that Benedict Cumberbatch would return for Avengers: Doomsday, but most fans naturally assumed he'd be back to reprise his role as Doctor Strange.
There have been a ton of reports that Cumberbatch would return, and some of them have said that he would be teaming up with Doctor Doom. But if a new rumor turns out to be true, Marvel may have something much stranger planned.
According to scooper MyTimeToShineHello on X, Cumberbatch reportedly isn't playing Doctor Strange at all. Instead, he's said to be taking on the role of Boris, a longtime servant of Doctor Doom.
Even more surprising, this version of Boris reportedly won't simply be Doom's loyal caretaker from the comics. The rumor claims he'll wield a sling ring and serve as a wizard working alongside Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. If that's true, it would be a major reinvention of the classic Marvel Comics character.
In the comics, Boris has always been one of Victor von Doom's most devoted allies in Latveria. He's traditionally portrayed as the faithful caretaker of Castle Doom and a trusted advisor to the Doom family, not someone with magical abilities or a major role on the battlefield.
Giving him mystic powers would be a significant departure from the source material and could point to a very different version of the character in the MCU.
Cumberbatch did say he would appear in Avengers: Doomsday, but the studio hasn’t officially announced it. Earlier this year, the actor even added to the confusion after first claiming Doctor Strange wouldn't appear in the movie before later correcting himself. Cumberbatch admitted he had gotten it wrong and joked, "Don't ever believe anything I say."
Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of Marvel Studios' craziest crossover events yet. The story is expected to unite heroes from multiple universes as they face Doctor Doom.
The Avengers, Wakandans, and New Avengers will represent Earth-616, while the Fantastic Four arrive from Earth-828. The X-Men will also join the battle from another universe that has yet to be revealed.
The massive ensemble is being directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, with a screenplay written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely.
Production on Avengers: Doomsday wrapped principal photography in September 2025 at Pinewood Studios in England, with additional filming taking place in Bahrain and Windsor Great Park.
Whether Cumberbatch is actually playing Boris or whether this rumor is another layer of Marvel's trademark secrecy remains to be seen. If it proves true, though, it’s another unexpected casting twist in the MCU, transforming a relatively obscure comic character into a magical right-hand man for Doctor Doom.
We'll find out when Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.