Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on Marvel Future

Benedict Cumberbatch spills the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even offering a glimpse into the subsequent X-Men era. Marvel and Kevin Feige are likely ecstatic (or perhaps slightly panicked!).

Table of Contents

• Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence
• Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the Anchor
• Secret Wars: A Multiversal Mashup
• The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange

Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence

Likely not a conspiracy. Marvel likely orchestrated the interview to strategically deploy spoilers, diverting attention from controversies surrounding Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively and the reception of Captain America: Brave New World.

Cumberbatch confirmed details about both Avengers: Doomsday (formerly Kang Dynasty) and Secret Wars, revealing significant plot changes following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. Robert Downey Jr.'s return is confirmed for Doomsday.

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While a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up (à la Triumph and Torment) was initially hoped for, Downey Jr.'s post-Secret Wars absence necessitates a revised storyline. Doctor Strange's role in Doomsday is minimized, possibly due to the film's significant restructuring from its original Kang Dynasty concept, where he was intended to have a more prominent role alongside Shang-Chi.

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This seemingly confirms theories linking Shang-Chi's Ten Rings to Kang, a connection hinted at in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the Anchor

Avengers: Doomsday heavily features the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, serving as a direct prelude to the film. A post-credits scene, similar to Thor: Ragnarok's setup for Infinity War, will likely bridge Doomsday and Secret Wars. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in Deadpool and Wolverine) remains a mystery, though he confirmed the being is still alive, ruling out Iron Man as the "Marvel Jesus."

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The theory suggests Spider-Man, not Iron Man, is the anchor, potentially targeted by Doctor Doom. The original Kang Dynasty and Doomsday plots appear to be adaptations of the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a Battleworld scenario that Secret Wars will build upon. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will seemingly play a pivotal role, potentially becoming the God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars: A Multiversal Mashup

Image: ensigame.com

Secret Wars will be a multiversal film featuring legacy actors, effectively soft-rebooting the MCU. Shang-Chi's role is significantly diminished in Doomsday, highlighting the narrative shifts.

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Initially, Doctor Strange was slated to survive the multiverse's destruction, but the revised plot indicates a more significant character death toll, similar to Infinity War. Secret Wars will likely feature a blend of surviving MCU characters and legacy actors from previous Marvel films, akin to an expanded version of Deadpool and Wolverine.

The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch hints at Doctor Strange's centrality to the MCU's X-Men era, potentially involving him in X-Men-related narratives. A version of Strange was even seen in X-Men '97!

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He alludes to Doctor Strange's continued involvement in overarching MCU storylines, potentially leading to an Avengers vs. X-Men film adaptation. Doctor Strange 3's release date and plot have also undergone changes, possibly delaying its release until after Secret Wars. This shift might incorporate more X-Men-related magical characters or even a classic Defenders storyline, potentially including Moon Knight and even a possible MCU Ghost Rider.

Image: ensigame.com

Image: ensigame.com

Cumberbatch's revelations leave many possibilities open for the future of the MCU and Doctor Strange's role within it.