Doctor Strange and Monica Rambeau Reportedly Won’t Appear in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY After All

When it comes to Avengers: Doomsday, especially with Doctor Doom stepping into the spotlight as the MCU’s next major threat, fans have been trying to piece together who will and won’t stand beside him or against him. Now, a new report is flipping expectations on their head.

According to Murphy’s Multiverse’s Charles Murphy (Via:CBM), neither Doctor Strange nor Monica Rambeau will appear in Avengers: Doomsday. That’s a big shift considering how much speculation has pointed toward both characters playing important roles in the next phase of the Multiverse Saga.

Let’s start with Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch previously caused a stir when he casually revealed that Stephen Strange wouldn’t be part of the next Avengers installment. He even joked, “Is that a spoiler? F** it! The character [was] not aligning with this part of the story.”

Then later on, Cumberbatch walked it back. While attending the Sundance Film Festival, he was asked if Marvel had sent him a strongly worded message after his earlier comments. His reply?

“I got that wrong, I am in the next one. Don't ever believe anything I say.”

That statement reignited hope that Strange would be deeply involved, especially since he previously said he’d be “in a lot” of Avengers: Secret Wars, with Strange being “quite central to where things might go.”

But now, Murphy’s report suggests that Doctor Strange isn’t part of Avengers: Doomsday after all.

That’s especially interesting when you consider earlier rumors surrounding Doom’s inner circle. There’s been plenty of chatter about the villain being surrounded by masked variants of familiar MCU heroes.

With Robert Downey Jr. set to play Doctor Doom, the idea that twisted versions of beloved characters could serve at his side hasn’t seemed far-fetched.

Insider Daniel Richtman even claimed that Doom would have a “wizard” acting as his second-in-command, specifically noting that this mysterious figure uses a Sling Ring. Naturally, fans connected the dots and assumed it had to be Doctor Strange.

If Murphy’s information holds up, that wizard isn’t Stephen Strange, and that raises even more questions about who Doom’s magical right-hand might be.

Then there’s Monica Rambeau. After the events of The Marvels, Monica found herself stranded in a universe that appeared to be home to the X-Men. That cliffhanger felt like a massive setup for what’s coming next in the Multiverse Saga. Many fans assumed her cross-dimensional predicament would tie directly into Avengers: Doomsday.

Apparently not.

The report indicates that Monica won’t appear in the film either, which is surprising given how her storyline connects to the larger multiversal chaos unfolding across the MCU. If she isn’t involved in Doomsday, it suggests Marvel might be saving her for something bigger, possibly Avengers: Secret Wars, where Cumberbatch has already hinted Strange will play a significant role.

It sounds like Avengers: Doomsday may focus more tightly on Doom’s rise and whatever fractured alliances and variant chaos come with it, without pulling Strange or Monica into the mix just yet. That could mean Marvel is carefully positioning certain characters for the long game rather than cramming everyone into one massive event.

Of course, plans can shift. Actors can misspeak. Scripts can evolve... if there is a script. But as it stands, Murphy’s latest update pours some cold water on the idea of Doctor Strange standing with Doom in this particular chapter.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on December 17, 2027.