Benedict Cumberbatch just went full spoiler on Marvel Future

Benedict Cumberbatch recently spilled the beans on *Avengers: Secret Wars* and *Avengers: Doomsday*, even offering a glimpse into the subsequent X-Men era. Marvel and Kevin Feige likely had mixed reactions to this unexpected reveal.

Table of Contents

• Conspiracy Theory? Doctor Strange's Absence from Doomsday
• Spider-Man, Not Iron Man, as the Anchor Being?
• Avengers: Secret Wars and the MCU Soft Reboot
• The Future of the MCU and Doctor Strange's Role
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Was this a deliberate leak? Probably not. Marvel often strategically controls interviews, using spoilers to deflect negative press. This could be a tactic to distract from controversies surrounding Ryan Reynolds/Blake Lively and the reception of *Captain America: Brave New World*.

Cumberbatch confirmed details about both *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Secret Wars*, highlighting the storyline changes following Jonathan Majors' dismissal. *Avengers 5*, originally *Kang Dynasty*, has transformed into *Doomsday*, bringing back Robert Downey Jr.

While a Doctor Doom/Doctor Strange team-up (like in *Triumph and Torment*) was hoped for, Downey Jr.'s post-*Secret Wars* departure necessitates a different approach.

Doctor Strange's Absence from *Doomsday*

Doctor Strange's absence from *Doomsday* might be explained by a post-credits scene setting up *Secret Wars*. His exclusion stems from his original role in the *Kang Dynasty* storyline, which has undergone significant revisions. The original *Avengers 5* (Kang Dynasty) would have featured Shang-Chi prominently, focusing on the Council of Kangs. The MCU's restructuring introduced Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) instead.

This seemingly confirms a long-standing theory about Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings. Similarities between the rings and those seen on Kang's larger time ship in *Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania* suggest Kang's involvement in their creation, particularly given the original *Avengers 5* focus on the Council of Kangs.

Spider-Man, Not Iron Man

*Avengers: Doomsday* centers on the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom, leading directly into *Secret Wars*. A post-credits scene, similar to *Thor: Ragnarok*'s setup for *Infinity War*, will likely bridge the gap. Kevin Feige's emphasis on "anchor beings" (as seen in *Deadpool and Wolverine*) suggests Iron Man isn't the MCU's central figure. The theory proposes Spider-Man as the anchor being, especially considering the shift in *Avengers 5*'s plot.

Both versions of *Avengers 5* appear to be adaptations of the *Avengers: Time Runs Out* storyline, culminating in a battle-world scenario that *Secret Wars* will build upon. Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will likely play a significant role, potentially becoming the God Emperor Doom.

Secret Wars

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

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 Doctor Strange

Cumberbatch hints at Doctor Strange's central role in the post-*Secret Wars* X-Men era. This could involve him in X-Men-related storylines, potentially building towards an *Avengers vs. X-Men* film. He also mentions significant changes to *Doctor Strange 3*, originally slated for release before *Kang Dynasty*. The film's plot will likely be revised due to the altered timeline and the post-*Secret Wars* landscape.

Doctor Strange 3 might incorporate more X-Men-based magic characters or even adapt a classic Defenders storyline, potentially featuring a Midnight Suns team-up, including Moon Knight and possibly even Ghost Rider.