Summary

Avengers: Doomsday will feature Robert Downey Jr. Returning as Doctor Doom, marking the start of a new phase in the MCU.
Benedict Cumberbatch revealed Dr. Strange won't be in the film due to changes after Jonathan Majors' firing.
Marvel faced challenges in planning due to unforeseen circumstances regarding the character Kang, affecting long-term MCU storytelling.

Avengers: Doomsday is one of Marvel Studios' upcoming blockbuster movies, and audiences are incredibly excited about it. The Avengers team hasn't been showcased together since 2019, and bringing together a new version of the team or Avengers: Doomsday will simultaneously provide something fresh for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

There is very little known about the overall plot of the film, but given that it's slated to be released in 2026, there's growing pressure on Marvel to have everything confirmed and ready to go. Small bits of information are starting to come out as the build-up begins, and Benedict Cumberbatch has given the most recent, but it has been slightly concerning to many people.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

What Has Benedict Cumberbatch Revealed?

There have been a lot of rumors circulating in recent months about what the cast of Avengers: Doomsday will look like, with tons of major stars being mentioned. Audiences already know Robert Downey Jr. Is returning, while Chris Evans is also expected to be back in the MCU for this movie. There have been other rumors claiming the likes of Deadpool, Wolverine, and Gambit are set to make appearances, proving that Marvel is looking to bring in a wide range of characters to make this a must-see film.

While everyone has been rumored so far, Dr Strange is one character that absolutely won't be part of the film. Cumberbatch recently spoke to Variety and confirmed he's not going to be in the next film as plans were changed after Marvel fired Jonathan Majors following his conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The British actor revealed that it has to do with "the character not aligning with this part of the story," which means he will not be involved. He also added that Dr Strange will be back in "a lot" of Avengers: Secret Wars which will be released one year after. It gives audiences a glimpse at the changes that have been made in the MCU recently and how it has impacted specific characters who are still involved in the franchise.

Marvel Has Been Having To Mix Things Around

The situation revolving around the character of Kang is something that Marvel could never have anticipated or planned for, as this was all due to circumstances beyond their control. Marvel could have opted to recast Kang, but the decision was taken not to do that, and it's unlikely audiences will ever find out what the original plan was. However, it's quite clear that Dr Strange was going to be part of what Marvel wanted to do initially, as Cumberbatch's comments hint that he was pulled from the movie due to the character no longer fitting in.

Marvel pivoted toward bringing Downey Jr. Back to take on the role of Doctor Doom, which is a decision that has divided many. Some MCU fans are ecstatic to see Downey Jr. Back, considering his impact on the franchise until now. However, others feel the move is a desperate bid to bring a positive buzz around the MCU again after the Majors controversy and the recent fact that there have been a few flops. Add in the fact that it is now impacting other characters, such as Dr Strange, and that could frustrate people even further as the sorcerer supreme is a popular member of the MCU.

There's A Worrying Lack Of Long-Term Planning

Robert Downey Jr Doctor Doom Avengers Doomsday

From the inception of the MCU, the focus has been on long-term planning and the need to create a general story that builds throughout every movie. They tend to culminate in Avengers storylines as something else that starts to be created in the aftermath of the next blockbuster film in the calendar. However, the build-up to Avengers: Doomsday has been chaotic, to say the least, as everything was pushing toward Kang being the main villain, which is something that Marvel has had to scrap. It has made some of the previous plots pointless as they won't be getting linked into Avengers: Doomsday, and the fact that prominent characters such as Dr Strange aren't going to be part of proceedings is negative in regards to the long-term planning.

This is an area that Marvel typically excels in, but Cumberbatch's comments have highlighted that there's not been much long-term planning heading into Avengers: Doomsday which could impact the overall quality of the movie. It's unclear whether there will be the right level of interest heading into this particular movie because of the chaotic nature of the build-up. It's a shame because that's something that doesn't typically happen within the MCU, especially for an Avengers-level movie. It's a worrying sign for a film that Marvel Studios will be hoping injects more positivity into the MCU again. Avengers: Doomsday is something audiences should be excited about, but while some will be anticipating it, other fans dread what could end up happening moving forward.

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