Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on 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 strategic leak? Perhaps.

Table of Contents:

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

Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

Likely not a genuine leak. Marvel likely orchestrated the interview to strategically manage narrative control, diverting attention from controversies surrounding Captain America: Brave New World and other recent issues.

Cumberbatch confirmed key details about both Avengers: Doomsday (formerly Kang Dynasty) and Secret Wars, revealing significant plot changes following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. Robert Downey Jr.'s return as Iron Man is a major development. The original Kang Dynasty script, focusing on Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs, and featuring Shang-Chi prominently, has been completely overhauled.

Image: ensigame.com

The planned Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up, inspired by Triumph and Torment, is seemingly off the table due to Downey Jr.'s anticipated departure after Secret Wars.

Doctor Strange's absence from Doomsday stems from narrative restructuring. He was originally slated for a larger role in the Kang Dynasty storyline.

Image: ensigame.com

This revelation seemingly confirms long-standing theories linking the Ten Rings from the Shang-Chi post-credits scene to Kang the Conqueror, as seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the MCU Anchor?

Avengers: Doomsday centers around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, directly leading into Secret Wars. A post-credits scene, similar to Thor: Ragnarok's setup for Infinity War, will bridge the two films.

Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" in Deadpool and Wolverine remains a mystery, though he confirmed the being is still alive, ruling out Iron Man as the "Marvel Jesus." The theory suggests Doctor Doom's target was the MCU anchor, potentially Spider-Man, given Doctor Strange's absence.

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Both Kang Dynasty and Doomsday versions appear to adapt the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a multiverse collapse and the Battleworld setting of Secret Wars. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will play a pivotal role, potentially becoming the God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars: A Multiversal Endgame

Secret Wars will be a multiverse film featuring legacy actors, effectively soft-rebooting the MCU. Shang-Chi's role has been significantly diminished.

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Doctor Strange's survival and presence in Battleworld were originally part of the plan, but the narrative shift suggests a drastically different cast, including many pre-MCU Marvel characters. The scale will be comparable to Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially featuring X-Men, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Venom, and classic Fantastic Four actors.

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The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange's Role

Cumberbatch suggests Doctor Strange will be central to the MCU's X-Men era, potentially involving him in X-Men-related stories. His interview hints at his own elevated importance within the MCU's future.

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Doctor Strange 3's release has been pushed back, possibly until after Secret Wars, requiring substantial plot revisions. The film may incorporate more X-Men-related magical characters or even adapt a classic Defenders storyline, potentially including Moon Knight and even a MCU Ghost Rider.

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A Midnight Suns team-up is also a possibility, given the potential inclusion of Moon Knight and the near-casting of Nicolas Cage as Ghost Rider in Deadpool and Wolverine. The possibilities are vast, thanks to Cumberbatch's revealing interview.

Image: ensigame.com