Avengers: Doomsday won't feature one major hero as Doctor Strange star reveals he isn't part the highly anticipated Marvel movie's cast

A screenshot of Doctor Stephen Strange in the Multiverse of Madness movie
Doctor Strange isn't going to appear in Avengers: Doomsday (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

  • Avengers: Doomsday won't feature Doctor Strange, according to the actor who plays him
  • Benedict Cumberbatch accidentally revealed that he isn't part of the Marvel movie's ensemble
  • Marvel hasn't officially commented on Cumberbatch's slip-up

Benedict Cumberbatch has accidentally revealed that he won't appear as Doctor Strange in Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking to Variety, the British star let slip that he isn't involved in the highly anticipated Marvel movie, which is due out in May 2026. Cumberbatch, then, won't be lining up alongside many of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers 5.

It's unclear what led to Cumberbatch's faux-pas but, after the Doctor Strange actor surprisingly revealed that he isn't part of the film's ensemble cast, he simply reacted by saying: "Is that a spoiler? F*** it!"

Fans of the Sorcerer Supreme shouldn't fret about his potential absence from Avengers: Secret Wars, which will cap the Marvel Multiverse Saga in May 2027. Indeed, Cumberbatch also told Variety that Stephen Strange is "in a lot" of Avengers 6, before adding: "He’s quite central to where things might go. He’s a very rich character to play. He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities, so there’s potent stuff to mess about with."

Marvel hasn't officially commented on Cumberbatch unexpectedly revealing that Strange won't be part of Avengers 5. Nonetheless, I've reached out to my Marvel contacts for a statement on the matter, and I'll report back if I receive a response.

Why isn't Doctor Strange going to be in Avengers: Doomsday?

Doctor Strange uses the Time Stone in the final battle of the 2016 Marvel movie

Doctor Strange isn't likely to be based on Earth when Doctor Doom comes calling in Avengers 5 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Apart from Cumberbatch telling Variety that "the character [does] not align with this part of the story [Avengers 5]", we don't know. However, given how his last solo movie – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – ended, we can speculate on his absence from the Marvel Phase 6 flick. You can read a detailed account of what happened in my Doctor Strange 2 ending explained piece, or read on for a full albeit abridged spoiler-filled explanation below.

Doctor Strange's dream sequence in the Multiverse of Madness trailer

Doctor Strange 2's ending hints at why he won't be around for Doomsday's events (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

At the end of Doctor Strange 2, the Master of the Mystic Arts took a walk on the cosmic and multiversal side (again) with fellow sorcerer Clea, who was briefly portrayed by Charlize Theron. She'd tracked him down on Earth to request his help in stopping an Incursion Event that he'd caused as part of events that play out in The Multiverse of Madness. Somewhat reluctantly, he agrees to aid her, with the pair stepping through a portal that seemingly leads to Dormammu's domain, which we last saw in 2015's Doctor Strange film.

If Strange and Clea are still trying to shut down whatever Incursion Event he created, it would explain why he won't be around to help his fellow Avengers in Marvel's next team-up movie. In it, they'll take on Doomsday's primary villain, who was revealed to be Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic Con 2024.

Still, while Cumberbatch won't be part of Doomsday's stacked cast roster, there are plenty of other big names attached to the project. The Fantastic Four's Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were confirmed to be appearing by Marvel chief Kevin Feige last year. Expect Marvel's First Family to help try and defeat one of their most iconic foes, then, after starring in their first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, which is titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps and arrives in theaters this July.

As for other individuals who may appear, Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson/Captain America and Tom Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man are among the many A-listers likely to show up. One actor who I didn't expect to see, though, is Chris Evans, with the Marvel alumnus reportedly returning for a mystery role in Avengers: Doomsday. With the movie set to start shooting sometime in early 2025, we should prepare for more cast announcements and rumors to appear online in the weeks and months ahead.

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Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

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