Doctor Strange Rumored To Be Doctor Doom's “Wizard Sidekick” in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY
Marvel fans might want to keep their sling rings handy because the latest rumor surrounding Avengers: Doomsday just threw a wild spell into the mix.
An inside scooper has shared an updated cast list tied to the film’s pre-reshoots, and tucked inside it is some surprisng info that instantly grabbed attention. According to the report, Benedict Cumberbatch may be returning to the MCU in a way nobody saw coming.
The list floating around online suggests that the Doctor Strange actor is involved with the moviel, despite being absent from Marvel Studios’ initial livestream cast reveal.
Even more interesting is the claim that Cumberbatch isn’t simply back as the Sorcerer Supreme fans know. Instead, he’s rumored to be playing a variant described as “Doom’s wizard sidekick.” This is the second time we’ve heard this rumor.
Cumberbatch was last seen as Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he teamed up with Wong and America Chavez to battle Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Since then, the character’s future has been a hot topic, especially with Marvel building toward its next massive crossover event.
The source of this latest rumor comes from internet scooper MyTimeToShineHello, who recently shared an expanded cast list tied to Doomsday reshoots. The list includes both confirmed names and several that haven’t been officially acknowledged.
Among those unconfirmed entries is Cumberbatch, allegedly attached to that mysterious “wizard sidekick” role. Whether this means a twisted Doctor Strange variant aligned with Doctor Doom or something even stranger is anyone’s guess.
What makes this situation even more entertaining is that Cumberbatch himself has added to the confusion. In a January 2025, the actor said that Doctor Strange wouldn’t appear in Doomsday, explaining that it came down to “the character not aligning with this part of the story.”
He did, however, tease big things ahead, saying Strange would play a key role in Avengers: Secret Wars and adding, “He’s quite central to where things might go.” He also hinted that a third solo Doctor Strange film was in the cards.
Then later, Cumberbatch was asked if Marvel had sent him a strongly worded email after his earlier comments. His response flipped the narrative, saying: “I got that wrong, I am in the next one.” He followed it up with a smirk and the perfect mic-drop line, “Don’t ever believe anything I say.”
Marvel Studios hasn’t officially confirmed Cumberbatch’s involvement yet, but the mixed signals and scooper intel are making this one hard to ignore.
What we do know is that Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026. The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, working from a screenplay by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely.
If Cumberbatch really is stepping into a Doctor Doom-adjacent role, even as a variant, Marvel fans could be in for something seriously cool.