Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on Marvel Future

Benedict Cumberbatch spills the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even hinting at the future X-Men era of the MCU. Marvel's likely thrilled (and perhaps strategically deploying this information).

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 leak, using Cumberbatch's revelations as a strategic distraction from controversies surrounding Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively and Captain America: Brave New World. Cumberbatch confirmed significant plot details for both Doomsday and Secret Wars, revealing substantial changes since the firing of Jonathan Majors. Avengers 5 (originally Kang Dynasty) is now Doomsday, and Robert Downey Jr. is back.

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While a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up (like Triumph and Torment) was initially hoped for, Downey Jr.'s post-Secret Wars status necessitates a revised storyline.

Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday

Strange's absence from Doomsday stems from his character's original storyline alignment with Kang Dynasty, not Doomsday. His role was significantly larger in the original Kang Dynasty script, which also featured Shang-Chi as a central character. The revised Doomsday script introduces Victor Von Doom and Robert Downey Jr.

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This seemingly confirms theories linking Shang-Chi's Ten Rings to Kang, given similarities between the rings and those on Kang's larger time ship in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man

Avengers: Doomsday centers around the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leading directly into Secret Wars. A post-credits scene, similar to Thor: Ragnarok, will likely set up Doomsday. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in Deadpool and Wolverine) remains a mystery, although he confirmed the anchor being is still alive, ruling out Iron Man.

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The theory suggests Spider-Man is the anchor being, replacing the original plan of a Doctor Strange versus Doctor Doom confrontation. Both Kang Dynasty and Doomsday versions appear to adapt the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a Battleworld setting for Secret Wars.

Secret Wars

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Secret Wars will be a multiverse film featuring legacy actors and a soft reboot of the MCU. Cumberbatch's revelations highlight Shang-Chi's reduced role in Doomsday, and the postponement of his sequel. The film will likely feature many surviving MCU characters and numerous legacy actors from pre-MCU Marvel films.

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Doctor Strange was initially slated to survive the multiverse's destruction, but the plot's changed. The scale of Secret Wars will be comparable to Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially including X-Men characters, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Venom, and classic Fantastic Four actors.

The Future of the MCU and Strange

Cumberbatch hints at Doctor Strange's central role in the MCU's X-Men era, potentially involving him in X-Men-related stories. He also mentions significant changes to Doctor Strange 3, originally planned for release before Kang Dynasty. The film's plot will now likely change due to the timeline shift and the post-Secret Wars landscape.

Image: ensigame.com

Image: ensigame.com

Doctor Strange 3 might incorporate elements of a classic Defenders storyline or a Midnight Suns team-up, potentially including Moon Knight and possibly even a MCU Ghost Rider. The possibilities remain wide open, thanks to Cumberbatch's unexpected revelations.

Image: ensigame.com