
With the recent confirmation from Benedict Cumberbatch that Doctor Strange will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, my curiosity about the film’s narrative direction has heightened. After a period of speculation, Kevin Feige officially unveiled Doomsday as the title of the upcoming Avengers installment, and the news of Robert Downey Jr.’s return as a formidable supervillain adds another layer of excitement. However, the absence of Doctor Strange raises questions about the story arcs Marvel Studios will choose to pursue in this anticipated sequel.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Comments Suggest Doomsday’s Storyline without Doctor Strange
So far, Doomsday’s ensemble cast has been expanded to include notable characters like Sam Wilson as Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and Spider-Man. Furthermore, Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell are also set to reprise their roles. However, Cumberbatch informed Variety that Doctor Strange will not be part of this chapter, stating he “[doesn’t align] with this part of the story.” While I will certainly miss Doctor Strange in Doomsday, his exclusion prompts intriguing questions about the narrative trajectory Marvel will undertake without the Master of the Mystic Arts.
Doomsday May Not Fully Set Up Secret Wars
Initially, I anticipated that Avengers: Doomsday would serve as a direct precursor to Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for release a year later in May 2027. This would mirror the storytelling approach of the Russo brothers with Infinity War and Endgame. However, given recent developments, it seems likely that this will not be the case. At the conclusion of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we saw Doctor Strange collaborating with Charlize Theron’s Clea to address an incursion — a subplot that appears to lead into Doctor Strange’s next appearance, which intriguingly is not in Doomsday.
The fact that a project following Avengers: Doomsday will delve deeper into Strange’s incursion narrative suggests that it is improbable for Doomsday to end with multiverse-destroying events that would directly lead into Secret Wars. Instead, it seems more plausible that Avengers: Doomsday will pursue an unexpected storyline, potentially setting the stage for Secret Wars while reserving heavier developments for Doctor Strange’s solo ventures down the line.
Doctor Strange 3 Theory Gains Credibility
Speculations Surrounding Doctor Strange 3’s Narrative
Cumberbatch’s recent remarks strongly imply that Doctor Strange 3 could be aimed for the unoccupied release date of November 6, 2026. This timing would place it as a bridge between Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, positioning it as the final installment leading into the May 2027 release of Secret Wars. This timeline leads me to believe that the third Doctor Strange film will be pivotal in setting up Secret Wars, potentially drawing from the acclaimed Time Runs Out saga from Marvel Comics.
The Time Runs Out storyline focuses on Doctor Strange exiting the Illuminati to align with the Black Priests in an endeavor to halt incursions threatening the multiverse. Furthermore, this narrative introduces Doctor Doom as he conspires to usurp the Beyonders’ powers and forge Battleworld from the remnants of destroyed universes, effectively bridging the gap to Secret Wars.
Potential Storylines for Avengers: Doomsday
Doctor Doom’s Role Opens New Narrative Avenues
Given the likelihood that Doctor Strange 3 will investigate the Time Runs Out arc, Avengers: Doomsday will need to explore an alternative storyline from the comics. Downey Jr.is set to debut as Doctor Doom in Doomsday, and his character plays a crucial role in both Time Runs Out and Secret Wars, further heightening anticipation for this introduction. A notable incursion in Latveria, which precedes the Time Runs Out events, could unfold within Avengers: Doomsday.
This incursion was initiated by the Mapmakers, agents serving the extradimensional Beyonders. Doctor Doom’s subsequent quest to eliminate variants of Molecule Man creates a rich narrative thread that could be woven into Doomsday. This subplot not only allows for a deeper exploration of Doom’s motives but could also lead to significant confrontations with Doctor Strange as the multiverse arc escalates.
Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Appearance |
Year |
Character |
---|---|---|
Iron Man |
2008 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
The Incredible Hulk |
2008 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Iron Man 2 |
2010 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
The Avengers |
2012 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Iron Man 3 |
2013 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Avengers: Age of Ultron |
2015 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Captain America: Civil War |
2016 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Spider-Man: Homecoming |
2017 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Avengers: Infinity War |
2018 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Avengers: Endgame |
2019 |
Tony Stark’s Iron Man |
Avengers: Doomsday |
2026 |
Victor Von Doom’s Doctor Doom |
Avengers: Secret Wars |
2027 |
Victor Von Doom’s Doctor Doom |
The unfolding storylines surrounding Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday promise to deepen the MCU’s multiverse narrative. As we prepare for this next chapter, anticipation builds for how these threads may coalesce as the franchise transitions toward the climactic showdown in Secret Wars.
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