Benedict Cumberbatch's confirmation that Doctor Strange won't return in Avengers: Doomsday provides a hint at Doctor Strange 3's release date in the MCU's Phase 6. Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange was last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he stopped Scarlet Witch from causing incursions due to her multiversal travel. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post credits scene suggests that Strange's next adventure will take place in the Dark Dimension, as Clea invited him to stop an incursion in her home reality.
As the Multiverse Saga approaches its last phase, anticipation for its final two crossover movies rises. Avengers: Doomsday is set to release in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars is set to release in May 2027. Both Avengers movies are expected to gather all active heroes, plus multiple variants from other universes, such as Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool. However, Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed that he won't return for Avengers: Doomsday, meaning that Doctor Strange won't participate in the Avengers' first battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Next MCU Appearance Is Now More Likely To Be Doctor Strange 3
Doctor Strange's Eventual Return In Avengers Secret Wars Might Make Doctor Strange 3's Release A Requirement
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Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange won't appear in Avengers: Doomsday, but he's very likely to return in Avengers: Secret Wars. Not only is Doctor Strange one of the most experienced and powerful Avengers still active in the MCU, but he's also a key player in Marvel Comics' 2015 Secret Wars storyline, where Doctor Doom is the main antagonist. Since Avengers: Secret Wars is set to hit theaters in 2027, Doctor Strange's quest into the Dark Dimension might be resolved in Doctor Strange 3 beforehand.
In 2015's Secret Wars, God Emperor Doom turns Doctor Strange into his right-hand man when the villain creates Battleworld.
Barring his fight against Thanos at Titan in Avengers: Infinity War, Doctor Strange has played a rather passive role in every one of his MCU appearances since 2016's Doctor Strange. He played a minor role in Avengers: Endgame's Battle of Earth, created and fixed Peter Parker's multiversal problems in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and protected America Chavez from Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In Doctor Strange 3, Strange could take a more active role in an investigation into the source of the MCU multiverse's next incursions.
Doctor Strange 3 Might Benefit From Benedict Cumberbatch’s Absence In Avengers Doomsday
Doctor Strange 3 May Have More Time To Focus On The Sorcerer's Own Multiversal Responsibilities
As the MCU's current Multiverse Saga slate stands, it would seem as if Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars were a two-part finale. In that case, Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange would be absent from the first part, and he would have to return in the second part having resolved Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene off-screen. But if Benedict Cumberbatch's absence in Avengers: Doomsday is due to Doctor Strange 3's release before Avengers: Secret Wars, then Doctor Strange 3 would have plenty of time to focus on the sorcerer's own multiversal conflict before his next Avengers team-up.
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Apart from the incursion Clea mentions in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene, Doctor Strange 3 could follow Doctor Strange as he deals with several other multiversal and interdimensional catastrophes, setting up a full-fledged Multiverse War for Avengers: Secret Wars. There's no better character to lead this movie than Benedict Cumberbatch's Earth-616 Doctor Strange, who has already been the mastermind behind multiple universe- and multiverse-saving adventures in the MCU, and who could arrive in Avengers: Secret Wars with valuable intel that could help the Avengers defeat Doctor Doom.
Doctor Strange 3 Could Release Between Avengers: Doomsday And Avengers: Secret Wars
Doctor Strange 3's Ideal Release Date Lands In Phase 6 Right Before Secret Wars
As of early 2025, Doctor Strange 3 hasn't been officially announced, let alone scheduled in the MCU's upcoming release slate. But among projects like Thor 5, Shang-Chi 2, and Black Panther 3, Doctor Strange 3 is the most likely sequel to be released between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, due to its potentially multiversal plot. Regardless of whether Doctor Strange 3 focuses on paying off Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene or not, the Doctor Strange threequel has the chance to set up Avengers: Secret Wars directly.
Doctor Strange 3 could be essential viewing before Avengers: Secret Wars' 2027 release
In the Infinity Saga, the space between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was filled with Captain Marvel, whose protagonist was teased by Avengers: Infinity War's post-credits scene. But while Brie Larson's Captain Marvel makes a spectacular appearance in Avengers: Endgame, she doesn't play an important role in the resolution of the Avengers' battle against Thanos. On the other hand, Doctor Strange 3 could be essential viewing before Avengers: Secret Wars' 2027 release.
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