Everyone is wondering who the new Avengers are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and which group of heroes will band together to fight Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. One name fans can rule out is Doctor Strange, as Benedict Cumberbatch reveals he is not in the upcoming 2026 epic crossover. There is no need to panic; he is not leaving the MCU. In fact, he seemingly has a big role in the future of the franchise.
While speaking with Variety, Benedict Cumberbatch let it slip that he is not in Avengers: Doomsday. “Is that a spoiler? F— it!” the actor says, revealing that he is not returning for the fifth Avengers movie. Doctor Strange won’t appear in Avengers: Doomsday because “The character does not align with this part of the story,” explains Cumberbatch. This is not because of a contract dispute, but because Doctor Strange will have a much more significant role in the following movie, Avengers: Secret Wars, saying he is “in a lot” of the sequel. In terms of the MCU’s future, Cumberbatch hints that despite his absence in Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Strange will be a major player. “He’s quite central to where things might go,” Cumberbatch says, stopping short of discussing when the third Doctor Strange movie will come out.
Currently, Disney and Marvel have one MCU untitled movie set between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, dated Feb. 13, 2027. Doctor Strange’s absence from Avengers: Doomsday might imply that the untitled movie is Doctor Strange 3, setting up his role in Avengers: Secret Wars. This would follow a similar pattern to Ant-Man, who was absent in Avengers: Infinity War because he was set to star in his own movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp, right after, and later had a pivotal role in Avengers: Endgame.
Doctor Strange’s Future in the MCU

While Doctor Strange’s absence from Avengers: Doomsday is disappointing, it might also hint at the direction the MCU is taking with the film. In the build-up to the Secret Wars comic, Doctor Strange travels the multiverse, trying to save the universe from incursions alongside Doctor Doom. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ends with Clea recruiting Doctor Strange to stop incursions. This might imply that if Doctor Strange 3 is released between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it will focus on Doctor Strange’s attempts to save the multiverse, only to fail in the end. That failure could be connected to the end of Avengers: Doomsday to set up Avengers: Secret Wars.

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As for the future of the MCU, while most fans are looking forward to the Mutant Saga being the focus of the franchise post-Avengers: Secret Wars, Doctor Strange could be an important figure in a number of projects. There are rumors of a Strange Academy Disney+ series, which in the comics is the Marvel version of Hogwarts – a magical school that trains individuals in the mystic arts. Doctor Strange is likely a vital component of whatever Marvel Studios has planned for uniting characters like Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight, Man-Thing, and Blade into a team. One thing is for certain: without Doctor Strange, the Avengers have lost one of their most powerful allies against Doctor Doom, so whoever makes up the team will need to bring some heavy firepower.