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Benedict Cumberbatch isn’t keeping secrets on ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ (because he’s not going to be in the movie)

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In the upcoming Marvel sequel “Avengers: Doomsday,” it appears that Doctor Strange will be taking a break, based on what Benedict Cumberbatch has hinted, who seems to enjoy sharing spoilers and secrets.

“Is that a spoiler?” the actor asked Variety in a recent interview. “F— it!”

Discussing not caring about the consequences, the Oscar-nominated actor from “The Imitation Game” and “The Power of the Dog” added an intriguing twist to the phrase “a good WTF,” thanks to Marvel Studios’ unexpected announcement at Comic-Con last summer that Robert Downey Jr. would rejoin the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time not as Iron Man.

According to Variety, Benedict Cumberbatch discovered that Robert Downey Jr. was returning to Marvel during the 2024 Comic-Con live broadcast. Eagerly, he picked up his phone and messaged the head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, about it right away.

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In my own words, I, Robert Downey Jr., share an intriguing tale of how Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, managed to entice me back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time portraying the iconic villain, Doctor Doom.

In a surprised tone, I found myself typing, “Gee whiz, what’s going on?” followed swiftly by, “Well, gee whiz, I mean, well, gee whiz!” This was my reaction as I shared with the source.

For Cumberbatch, having Downey back is an unexpected yet delightful addition to the set, providing some much-needed levity amidst the intense pressure of producing multimillion-dollar films. In an interview with Variety, the British actor (whose parents were also actors), shared that Downey would affectionately call him “Mr. Shakespeare” and make jokes about their shared role as literary detective Sherlock Holmes on screen. Regrettably, a witty nod to their past roles didn’t make it into the final film, he mentioned.

The actor who starred in “Sherlock” and “Star Trek Into Darkness”, and later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Doctor Strange” (2016), mentioned that observing Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of billionaire playboy Tony Stark and his lively exchanges with Spider-Man, Tom Holland, in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) influenced him to adopt a more relaxed acting style for his character. He felt that he may have come across as too rigid in his earlier appearances.

In his words, “I gained a great deal of insight from observing their relaxed and spontaneous demeanor.” He further added, “It’s challenging because there’s a lot of equipment surrounding you, but its significance cannot be overstated.

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According to reports, Chris Evans is expected to rejoin Robert Downey Jr. for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in 2026, which means he’ll be back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a six-year absence following ‘Endgame.’

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, in collaboration with his production company SunnyMarch, has been showing a preference for film styles reminiscent of European art cinema in their recent endeavors, such as “The Thing With Feathers,” premiering at this week’s Sundance Film Festival, and “Eric” and “Roses” on Netflix. Despite the time commitment required by Marvel movies, Cumberbatch views the franchise (with its growing collection of 34 films) as modern-day mythology that transports viewers to various imaginative realms.

Indeed, it’s bulky and difficult to handle, yet Marvel is incredibly dedicated to ensuring its perfection,” Cumberbatch noted. “Even when we produce one of these Avengers movies and it becomes even more massive, we’re still like children playing in a sandbox. We’re still just brainstorming ideas and enjoying ourselves while doing it.

2008 saw Robert Downey Jr., an Oscar-winning actor, kickstart the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his portrayal of the titular superhero in “Iron Man,” a film adaptation of a comic book. His tenure as the main Avenger came to an end when his character made the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe in “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). Now, Downey is gearing up to play the antagonist, Victor von Doom, also known as “Doctor Doom,” a villain originally from Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” comics. Rumors suggest that the new villain in “Doomsday” could be a variant of Stark.

With a lot of exciting projects on the horizon this summer, such as the reintroduction of the “Fantastic Four” and Chris Evans’ rumored return to the MCU, as well as the anticipated comeback of Doctor Strange (played by Cumberbatch), it seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is shaping up to be quite busy. However, recent news suggests that Cumberbatch’s character won’t appear in the May 2026 film, which left some people a bit taken aback. Despite initially seeming surprised about this plot point, Cumberbatch went on to share details about the studio’s highly confidential plans for the next phase of Marvel films.

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Denzel Washington has shared that he has around six upcoming projects he intends to complete before retirement, one of which is a custom role in an unannounced third installment of the ‘Black Panther’ series.

Last year, when Jonathan Majors was dismissed following his conviction for assault, significant adjustments were needed in the plans. Majors, who was set to portray the mysterious villain Kang the Conqueror, was slated as the primary antagonist in future releases. However, the studio was compelled to shift direction after parting ways with him.

Introduce: Downey’s menacing Doctor Doom. With this change, Cumberbatch, whose persona was last seen in 2022’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” has announced he won’t feature in “Doomsday” as his character doesn’t fit with the storyline at this point.

Confirming that he perhaps shouldn’t disclose this information, Benedict Cumberbatch has hinted that his character, Doctor Strange, will feature prominently in the upcoming sequel to “Doomsday,” titled “Avengers: Secret Wars.” This movie is scheduled for a 2027 theater release. The Russo brothers, who jointly directed the final episodes of “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” are set to direct both films.

[Doctor Strange] seems to play a significant role in the direction of future events,” Cumberbatch suggested, implying that the character could reappear in another solo movie.

I, too, laud the collaborative approach of the studio owned by Disney. They’ve been open to conversations about where Doctor Strange’s journey continues, who might pen and direct the upcoming movie, and which aspects of his comic book lore we should delve into next, ensuring that the character continues to grow and evolve.

Cumberbatch described the role as intriguing because it’s a deeply layered, paradoxical person with remarkable talents. He mentioned that this presents exciting opportunities for exploration and interpretation.”

Or, in a more conversational style:

“Cumberbatch thought the character was fascinating since it was complex, filled with contradictions, and had extraordinary powers. This makes it an interesting role to delve into and explore.

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2025-01-23 00:31

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