Benedict Cumberbatch spills the beans on Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, even hinting at the MCU's X-Men future. Marvel's strategic leak? Possibly. This article unpacks Cumberbatch's revelations.
Table of Contents
- Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday
- Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the MCU's Anchor?
- Secret Wars: A Multiversal Endgame
- The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange
Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday
Likely not a genuine leak. Marvel likely orchestrated the spoiler-filled interview to divert attention from controversies surrounding Captain America: Brave New World and other negative press.
Cumberbatch confirmed key details about both Avengers: Doomsday (formerly Kang Dynasty) and Secret Wars, revealing significant plot changes following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. Avengers 5 shifted from a Kang-centric narrative to a Doomsday storyline, bringing back Robert Downey Jr. The initial plan, focusing on the Council of Kangs and featuring Shang-Chi prominently, was scrapped.
Image: ensigame.com
While a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up (à la Triumph and Torment) was initially hoped for, Downey Jr.'s post-Secret Wars absence necessitates a different approach. Doctor Strange's absence from Doomsday is attributed to his storyline not aligning with the revised plot, suggesting a more significant role envisioned for him in the original Kang Dynasty.
Image: ensigame.com
This seemingly confirms a long-standing fan theory connecting Shang-Chi's Ten Rings to Kang, supported by similarities between the rings and Kang's time-ship in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the MCU's Anchor?
Avengers: Doomsday heavily features the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, directly leading into Secret Wars. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in Deadpool and Wolverine) remains a mystery, though Feige confirmed the anchor is still alive, ruling out Iron Man. The theory posits Spider-Man as the MCU's anchor, potentially targeted by Doctor Doom.
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Both versions of Avengers 5 appear to adapt the Avengers: Time Runs Out storyline, culminating in a battle-world scenario, setting the stage for Secret Wars. Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will be central to this narrative, potentially becoming the God Emperor Doom.
Secret Wars: A Multiversal Endgame
Image: ensigame.com
Secret Wars will be a multiversal spectacle featuring legacy actors, effectively soft-rebooting the MCU. Shang-Chi's role was significantly downgraded in the revised Doomsday script.
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The original plan involved many MCU characters perishing, with Secret Wars featuring survivors and pre-MCU actors. The film's scale will be comparable to Deadpool and Wolverine, potentially including X-Men, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Venom, and classic Fantastic Four actors.
The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange
Cumberbatch suggests Doctor Strange will be pivotal in the MCU's X-Men era, potentially leading to X-Men-related storylines. His involvement is hinted at in X-Men '97.
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Doctor Strange 3's release is now speculated to be after Secret Wars, requiring a plot overhaul. The film may incorporate X-Men-related magical characters or a classic Defenders storyline, potentially even a Midnight Suns team-up, possibly including Moon Knight and even a MCU Ghost Rider.
Image: ensigame.com
Image: ensigame.com
Cumberbatch's "spoiler-alert" interview leaves the MCU's future wide open, full of exciting possibilities.
