"There is a lot more to play"— Benedict Cumberbatch confirms there is more of Doctor Strange in the MCU

Benedict Cumberbatch wasn't the earliest addition to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), but his portrayal of Doctor Strange has been a tremendous hit, making the character one of the most revered in the franchise. From iconic moments to clever dialogues, Doctor Strange has been a phenomenal addition since his debut in the titular movie in 2016.

However, Marvel hasn't been what it once was, and many of the superheroes who formed the core of the team have either retired or faced worse fates. This has raised doubts about the return of Benedict Cumberbatch's acclaimed character. In an interview with Variety published on December 10, 2024, the actor addressed these concerns and confirmed that there will indeed be much more from Strange in the coming movies.

Expanding on this, the Sherlock star said:

"I [realized] I gotta have fun. I can’t just turn up with the collar. The best stuff on those huge canvases, those things with a huge amount of responsibility and expectation from all these amazing, devoted fans, is to play and have fun and be free to keep it alive. [Otherwise] it becomes stale. (...) I am interested in seeing where these costs take him. There is a lot more to play and it’s very exciting."

While Marvel is yet to confirm it, the character will likely be part of Marvel's upcoming mega project, Avengers: Doomsday.

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Benedict Cumberbatch seemingly confirms Avengers: Doomsday appearance in new interview

Marvel has not made a project that can be considered immensely ambitious since 2019's Avengers: Endgame. It is only natural that the next time they attempt this, it will be another Russo Brothers extravaganza.

Rumors and casting announcements have already confirmed many intriguing characters, like Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Benedict Cumberbatch, in a recent interview with TV Groove, has confirmed that he would be part of the ensemble project too. He said:

"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."

While there is no news about whether Doctor Strange will continue beyond the upcoming Avengers movies, Cumberbatch's latest comments suggest that more of Doctor Strange is slated for the future.

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Why Doctor Strange can be crucial for Avengers: Doomsday

So far, Benedict Cumberbatch's character has been pivotal in the concept of the multiverse, which the MCU has relied on a lot in recent years. With the entry of Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., there are bound to be some multiversal concepts that would possibly explain the same actor playing Doctor Doom after previously being the primary hero in the Avengers movies.

Moreover, as Marvel has already been moving toward multiversal wars with Kang (Jonathan Majors), it is likely that Marvel will stick to some conceptual similarities with the new villain.

In that case, Doctor Strange fits right in, as he is one of the pivotal multiverse figures in the entire MCU. There are also some great storylines involving both Strange and Doom, who even team up in some. Marvel may decide to adapt from there as well, which will give a whole new dimension to the character as well.

This suggests that there will likely be a very important role for Benedict Cumberbatch in the future of the MCU.

More details about this are expected to arrive soon.