Benedict Cumberbatch recently spilled the beans on the upcoming Marvel projects, Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, sparking excitement and speculation among fans. He also touched upon Marvel's plans for the X-Men era following these epic films. Marvel and Kevin Feige are undoubtedly thrilled with the buzz Cumberbatch's revelations have generated.
Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence in Doomsday
Is there a conspiracy behind Doctor Strange's absence in Avengers: Doomsday? Fans are buzzing with theories. However, it seems unlikely that Marvel would allow such a significant leak without a strategy. The studio has a history of using tactical spoilers to shift focus away from less favorable news, such as the recent buzz around Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively or the negative press surrounding Captain America: Brave New World.
Cumberbatch confirmed several plot points, including changes in the storyline due to Jonathan Majors' departure. Avengers 5, originally titled Kang Dynasty, has been renamed to Doomsday and will feature the return of Robert Downey Jr. This shift has led to significant alterations in character arcs and plot directions.
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While fans hoped for a Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange team-up reminiscent of the comic "Triumph and Torment," it appears that Robert Downey Jr.'s involvement in Secret Wars might prevent this. Cumberbatch clarified that Doctor Strange's absence from Doomsday is due to his character not aligning with the revised storyline, originally planned to feature him prominently in the Kang Dynasty narrative.
Doctor Strange's Role in Doomsday
Doctor Strange might appear in a post-credits scene that sets up Avengers: Secret Wars. His absence from Doomsday is tied to the narrative shift away from Kang Dynasty, where Shang-Chi was also meant to play a significant role. The film has been retooled to introduce Victor Von Doom and Robert Downey Jr., sparking new theories about the Ten Rings of Power from Shang-Chi, especially after their connection to Kang's time ship in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
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Spider-Man, Not Iron Man
Avengers: Doomsday will focus more on the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leading directly into the film. A post-credits scene similar to Thor: Ragnarok will set up Doomsday. Kevin Feige's concept of "anchor beings," pivotal characters in the MCU, was highlighted during Deadpool and Wolverine. While Iron Man isn't this "Marvel Jesus," Cumberbatch hinted that Spider-Man might be the anchor being, especially with Doctor Strange's reduced role in the narrative.
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Both versions of Avengers 5, Kang Dynasty and Doomsday, seem to be adaptations of the "Time Runs Out" storyline, culminating in the multiverse's collapse into Battle World for Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr. will take on a role akin to God Emperor Doom, trying to save yet ultimately becoming the main villain of the multiverse.
Secret Wars
Secret Wars is set to be a multiverse epic, featuring a team of legacy actors akin to a multiverse Avengers team. Marvel is using this film to soft reboot the MCU. Cumberbatch's revelations included Shang-Chi's reduced role in Doomsday and the delay of his sequel in favor of other projects like the new Spider-Man film.
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In Secret Wars, Doctor Strange was initially meant to survive the multiverse's destruction and reach Battle World. The film would feature a mix of surviving MCU characters and legacy actors from pre-MCU Marvel films, much like an expanded version of Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially including X-Men, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and classic Fantastic Four actors.
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The Future of MCU and Doctor Strange
Cumberbatch discussed Marvel's plans post-Secret Wars, indicating a soft reboot and a central role for Doctor Strange in the upcoming X-Men era. This could involve Doctor Strange in X-Men-based stories, as seen in X-Men '97.
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Doctor Strange's involvement in Phase 7, leading up to Avengers vs. X-Men, was highlighted. Additionally, Doctor Strange 3's release has been pushed back to align with Secret Wars, necessitating a complete plot overhaul to focus on X-Men-related magic characters. The film might also explore a classic Defenders storyline or a Midnight Suns team-up, potentially featuring Moon Knight and even an MCU Ghost Rider.
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Benedict Cumberbatch's candid interview has opened up a world of possibilities for the MCU, leaving fans eager to see how these revelations will shape the future of Marvel's cinematic universe.
