Spoiler Alert: Benedict Cumberbatch Reveals Marvel Future

Benedict Cumberbatch spills the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even hinting at the future X-Men era of the MCU. Marvel's likely delighted (or perhaps strategically deploying this information).

Table of Contents

• Conspiracy Theory?
• Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday
• Spider-Man, Not Iron Man
• Secret Wars
• The Future of the MCU and Strange

Conspiracy Theory? Probably Not.

Marvel likely orchestrated the leak, using Cumberbatch's revelations as a strategic distraction from other controversies, such as the Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively situation and the backlash surrounding Captain America: Brave New World.

Cumberbatch confirmed key details about both Avengers: Doomsday (formerly Kang Dynasty) and Secret Wars, revealing significant plot changes following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. The film's shift brought back Robert Downey Jr.

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While a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up (à la Triumph and Torment) was initially hoped for, Downey Jr.'s likely limited involvement necessitates a different approach.

Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

Strange's absence from Doomsday stems from his character's initial misalignment with the revised storyline. He was slated for a larger role in the original Kang Dynasty script. The revised script, focusing on the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leaves less room for Strange. He might appear in a post-credits scene setting up Secret Wars.

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The altered storyline also significantly reduces Shang-Chi's role, potentially confirming theories linking the Ten Rings to Kang, based on similarities between the rings and Kang's time ship seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man

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 to Secret Wars.

Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in Deadpool and Wolverine) suggests that Spider-Man, not Iron Man, fills this crucial role. The original plan possibly involved a Doctor Strange vs. Doctor Doom confrontation, but Cumberbatch's comments suggest this is no longer the case.

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Both versions of Avengers 5 (the original Kang Dynasty and the revised Doomsday) appear to be adaptations of the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a battle world scenario, which is where Secret Wars begins. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will likely become the main antagonist, mirroring the God Emperor Doom storyline.

Secret Wars

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Secret Wars will be a multiverse film featuring legacy actors, effectively soft-rebooting the MCU. Shang-Chi's reduced role highlights the shifting priorities of the revised storyline.

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Doctor Strange was initially slated to survive the multiverse's collapse, but the revised script suggests a more extensive cast of characters, including many legacy actors from pre-MCU Marvel films, will be involved. The film's scope will be similar to Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially featuring X-Men, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Venom, and classic Fantastic Four actors.

The Future of the MCU and Strange

Cumberbatch's comments suggest Doctor Strange will play a central role in the MCU's X-Men era. This could involve Strange in X-Men-related storylines.

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He hints at Strange's importance in future phases, possibly leading to an Avengers vs. X-Men film. Doctor Strange 3's release is now likely post-Secret Wars, requiring significant plot changes. The film might incorporate more X-Men-based magic characters or even a classic Defenders storyline.

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A Midnight Suns team-up is also a possibility, potentially including Moon Knight and even an MCU Ghost Rider. The leaked information opens up numerous possibilities for the future of the MCU.

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