Benedict Cumberbatch Unveils Marvel Future Secrets

Benedict Cumberbatch spills the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even offering a glimpse into the MCU's X-Men era. Marvel and Kevin Feige likely weren't displeased by the unexpected revelations.

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 spoiler-filled interview as a strategic maneuver to divert attention from other controversies, such as the Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively situation and the backlash surrounding Captain America: Brave New World.

Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

Cumberbatch confirmed that Strange's absence from Doomsday stems from the script's overhaul following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. Originally slated for a more significant role in the now-renamed Doomsday (formerly Kang Dynasty), his character arc no longer aligns with the revised narrative. The original Kang Dynasty would have prominently featured Shang-Chi.

Image: ensigame.com

This revelation supports long-standing fan theories connecting the Ten Rings from Shang-Chi's film to Kang, further solidified by visual similarities between the rings and Kang's time-ship in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man

Doomsday centers around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, serving as a direct prelude to the film. A post-credits scene, akin 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 Spider-Man, not Iron Man, holds this crucial role. The original plan possibly involved a Doctor Strange vs. Doctor Doom showdown, now scrapped due to Cumberbatch's character's exclusion.

Image: ensigame.com

Both versions of Avengers 5 appear to adapt elements from the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a Battleworld scenario. Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will likely take on a more prominent villainous role in Secret Wars, potentially as God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars

Image: ensigame.com

Secret Wars will be a multiverse film featuring legacy actors, essentially a soft reboot of the MCU. Shang-Chi's role has been significantly diminished in the revised Doomsday storyline. The film will likely involve a massive cast including surviving MCU characters and actors from previous Marvel films, similar to, but larger than, Deadpool and Wolverine.

Image: ensigame.com

The Future of the MCU and Strange

Post-Secret Wars, Doctor Strange is poised to play a pivotal role in the MCU's X-Men era. This could involve him in X-Men-related storylines. Cumberbatch's comments suggest that Strange will be involved in larger-scale MCU narratives in Phase 7, potentially leading to an Avengers vs. X-Men film.

Image: ensigame.com

Doctor Strange 3's release date has been pushed back, likely until after Secret Wars. The film's plot will need significant adjustments, potentially incorporating more X-Men-related magic characters or even classic Defenders storylines, potentially including a Midnight Suns team-up.

Image: ensigame.com

Image: ensigame.com

Cumberbatch's unintentional spoilers have opened up a world of possibilities for the future of the MCU.