Warning: Spoilers ahead for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Although his character had a rough time dealing with an uber-powerful Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch gone rogue in his second MCU feature film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Dr. Strange remains as pivotal a character as ever in the MCU, especially in the glaring absence of superhero linchpins like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America.
So what’s next on the big screen for Doctor Strange? And when will Doctor Strange be returning to the MCU? Benedict Cumberbatch, who has played the seasoned sorcerer since 2016’s Doctor Strange dropped some hints about his character’s future as well as some of his thoughts about the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general during an appearance at the Red Sea Film Festival.
“Doctor Strange is complex man motivated by a need to control everything at any cost,” the actor told Variety. “I am interested in seeing where these costs take him. There is a lot more to play and it’s very exciting.”
He also described the MCU movies as “grand gestures,” stating, “When they are really good, they capture the zeitgeist, speak to us and our culture. They are so much fun to do.”
Cumberbatch wasn’t certain that his character would be as well-received as some of the other Marvel mainstays however, admitting that he had “a real fear” that his character being “a bit of a misogynist and an arrogant sod” wouldn’t have worked without impeccable character growth; the first Doctor Strange film also had the obstacle of needing to speak with the “idea of spirituality” in a universe rife with superheroes and demigods.
“That was the key to the success. It was something we hadn’t seen in the MCU, a whole new ground. Also just what [Strange] brings in terms of harnessing power through sheer will. That is a superpower and, as an origin story, it is pretty rich.”
So when will Doctor Strange be returning to the MCU? If all goes according to plan, the MCU’s Phase 6, which is set to begin in mid-2025.
“I’m really excited not only to work with the Russo brothers again but also to have Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. I think there’s going to be some really cool developments ahead, and I’m excited to see what happens next,” Cumberbatch told Japanese website TV Groove.
How will Doctor Strange react to the arrival of Doctor Doom? Will we hear the line, “Victor, I’ve come to bargain”? And do you believe the comments made by Benedict Cumberbatch on Dr. Strange returning to the MCU or do you think he’ll fasten up the collared Cloak of Levitation to make an appearance before Phase 6 and Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to be directed by the Russo Brothers? Let us know in the comments.
