Summary
Benedict Cumberbatch seemingly confirms thatDoctor Strangewill appear in theMCU’sAvengers 5, and he may have a bigger role in the movie than originally planned. Unlike the Infinity Saga’s road toAvengers: Infinity War, the Multiverse Saga hasn’t provided clear set-ups ahead ofAvengers 5andAvengers: Secret Wars. But with just under two years untilAvengers 5’s 2026 release, the first news and updates about the MCU’s next crossover movie are bound to arrive — sometimes from the mouth of the actors themselves.
Speaking toNetflixin"Benedict Cumberbatch Looks Back At His Most Iconic Roles", Benedict Cumberbatch expresses his enthusiasm forAvengers 5, seemingly confirming his involvement in the next biggest movie ofthe MCU’s current slate. Cumberbatch says,“I’m very much looking forward to Avengers next year, which is cooking up a storm.“With a May 2026 release date,Avengers 5is likely to go into production in early to mid 2025. And while information aboutAvengers 5’s plot is still scarce, Doctor Strange’s return after his 2022 solo sequel points to the film’s possible plot.
Doctor Strange In Avengers 5 Is Not a Shock
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Will Likely Be One Of Avengers 5’s Main Characters
It’s no wonder that Doctor Strange isAvengers 5’s first confirmed hero, as he is the closest the MCU has to a protagonist during the Multiverse Saga. Doctor Strange was one of the most powerful and influential heroes inAvengers: Infinity Warand he shaped the events ofAvengers: Endgame. Strange then saved the Earth and possibly the whole multiverse inSpider-Man: No Way HomeandDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As protector of all reality,it’s Doctor Strange’s duty to be the first Avenger in action as soon as the next Thanos-level threat arrives.
Doctor Strange’s powerful magical abilities, wisdom, and experience as an Avenger will likely make him one ofAvengers 5’s protagonists
Doctor Strange also possesses a web of connections that can bring the Avengers back after Iron Man’s death and Steve Rogers' retirement, albeit unofficially. Strange may be the one to contact Spider-Man, Thor, America Chavez, Sam Wilson, Smart Hulk, and Rhodey Rhodes. Meanwhile, Strange’s closest ally Wong will likely be the one who contacts heroes such as She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, and Daredevil. Doctor Strange’s powerful magical abilities, wisdom, and experience as an Avenger will likely make him one ofAvengers 5’s protagonists.
Avengers 5 Has To Deal With Doctor Strange’s Clea Cliffhanger
Doctor Strange’s battle against the Scarlet Witch ended with him growing a third eye due to his use of forbidden magic. Strange barely had any time to recover before the Dark Dimension sorceress, Clea, came to him with a new mission duringDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene, where she informed Strange of an approaching incursion. For a while, it seemed like Doctor Strange’s sequel tease would be paid off in an eventualDoctor Strange 3, butnow thatAvengers 5is Doctor Strange’s next confirmed appearance, Strange’s multiversal adventure with Clea will have to be acknowledged sooner.
Everything We Know About Doctor Strange 3
Here’s everything we know about Doctor Strange 3, including any new & returning cast, what the story might be, and its potential release date.
Large chunks ofDoctor Strange’s MCU storyhave been left off-screen before, mostly for runtime reasons. Strange’s improvement as a sorcerer in the Dark Dimension throughout countless years was summarized in a montage sequence in 2016’sDoctor Strange, and his subsequent adventures were glossed over between hisThor: RagnarokandAvengers: Infinity Warappearances. WhileAvengers 5is expected to divide its runtime equitably,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene needs to be properly integrated into its plot. Otherwise, the tease would join a growing list of overlooked MCU post-credits scenes that never went anywhere.
Avengers 5 Could Be About Incursions More Than Anyone Thought
Incursions Could Replace Kang The Conqueror As Avengers 5’s Main Antagonistic Force
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene provides the ideal starting point to kick offAvengers 5andAvengers: Secret Wars' multiversal storyline. Doctor Strange’s venture into the Dark Dimension with Clea could go many ways, each of which could delineate the main conflict of the Avengers' next battles. Strange could learnexactly how the MCU’s dangerous incursions workand what the Avengers need to do to prevent them, or it all could go wrong for Strange and Clea, inspiring Strange to assemble a new team of Avengers to stop an impending incursion.
Clea is Dormammu’s niece, the Dark Dimension’s ruler. Dormammu could be an antagonist inAvengers 5.
Either way, the threat of multiversal incursions is interesting enough to informAvengers 5’s plot without the need ofKang the Conqueror’s recasting or replacement. In fact, a straightforward story that followsDoctor Strangeleading the Avengers on a mission to stop an incursion can help audiences leave Kang in the past and prepare for a new villain inAvengers: Secret Wars. After all, it’s still early enough to move on from Kang the Conqueror’s tepid introduction inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
