Benedict Cumberbatch has confirmed that his Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Doctor Strange, will be absent from the upcoming Avengers Doomsday film. However, fans can look forward to seeing him play a "central role" in its sequel, Avengers Secret Wars. In an interview with Variety, Cumberbatch inadvertently dropped this spoiler, exclaiming "f**k it" before delving deeper into his character's future in the MCU. He revealed that Doctor Strange is set to be pivotal in the unfolding narrative and teased the development of a third standalone Doctor Strange movie.

Cumberbatch expressed enthusiasm about the creative discussions surrounding the future of his character, emphasizing the collaborative process of deciding the direction of the next film. "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?" he pondered. He highlighted the complexity and richness of Doctor Strange, describing him as "a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities," which provides ample material for further exploration.

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Regarding his absence from Avengers Doomsday, Cumberbatch explained that it's due to "the character not aligning with this part of the story." The film, set to release on May 1, 2026, will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and reportedly Chris Evans as well, though details remain sparse. Directed by the former Avengers helmers, the Russo Brothers, Avengers Doomsday will continue to delve into multiverse themes, with Hayley Atwell's Agent Carter also slated to appear.

In the immediate future, Phase 6 of the MCU will commence with The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, leading up to Avengers Doomsday and culminating with Avengers Secret Wars, scheduled for May 7, 2027. Fans of the MCU have much to anticipate with these exciting developments on the horizon.