Doctor Strange is set to fight for an important Marvel Cinematic Universe record after Benedict Cumberbatch’s recent Avengers: Doomsday and MCU comments. Doctor Strange is one of the most popular characters in the franchise. After his first solo film established the hero’s origin for movie fans, which was important since Doctor Strange was not well known outside the comics, Stephen Strange would get to be part of some of the MCU’s best movies, including Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showed how important the hero is to the MCU.

The second Doctor Strange film grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. Aside from its box office success, the project also helped highlight how important Benedict Cumberbatch’s character should be for upcoming MCU releases in the Multiverse Saga. Doctor Strange’s multiverse experience makes him one of the fan favorites to lead Marvel’s new Avengers team. That role could also be given to other important MCU characters, like Spider-Man or Captain Marvel. When compared to the MCU’s other heroes, Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange falls short of being part of a select group, but that could change in the not-so-distant future.

Doctor Strange’s Avengers: Doomsday Return Marks His 8th MCU Appearance

The Hero’s Role In The Next Avengers Movie Is Finally Confirmed

Doctor Strange’s situation in the MCU’s next Avengers movie has been more dramatic than one would come to expect. After all, Strange was the first hero confirmed to be part of Avengers: Doomsday. In June 2024, Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed that Doctor Strange would be in the upcoming Avengers film. While he did not say much, the actor stated in an interview that he was “looking forward” to filming Avengers: Doomsday in 2025. While that seemed to be set in stone, the new year would bring a couple of conflicting comments from the actor regarding his role in the anticipated film. Check out the interview below:

Last January, Cumberbatch stated that Doctor Strange would no longer appear in Avengers: Doomsday. According to the star, the character simply no longer aligned with that specific part of the story that would be told over the next two Avengers movies. The film was originally going to star Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror, but when Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom became its main villain and the project shifted from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to Doomsday, Doctor Strange’s role was cut. However, it only took a week for the character’s Avengers movie status to shift once again.

Claiming he misspoke, Cumberbatch confirmed that Doctor Strange would be in Avengers: Doomsday after all, saying, “I got that wrong, I am in the next one… Don’t ever believe anything I say.” With Stephen Strange set to appear in the next film starring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, by 2026, Doctor Strange will have appeared in eight MCU projects. Those include both Doctor Strange solo films, Spider-Man: No Way Home, three Avengers entries, Thor: Ragnarok, and the multiverse-focused animated series What If…? With Cumberbatch happy at Marvel, there are no signs he is stepping away any time soon.

Benedict Cumberbatch Has Already Teased More Doctor Strange MCU Appearances

Stephen Strange Can Have A Long Life In The MCU

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange has embarked on a vital mission. Charlize Theron made her MCU debut as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ post-credits scene, where she recruited the hero to stop an incursion he had caused. That could play out in multiple MCU movies, but a third solo entry for Doctor Strange always made the most sense for it. Well, that could happen, as Cumberbatch recently teased Doctor Strange 3. The actor said Marvel is open to discussing where to go next, teasing, “Who do you want to write and direct the next one?“

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Doctor Strange 3 and Avengers: Doomsday are not the only two movies that could see Cumberbatch return as his beloved Marvel character. In fact, the actor has already confirmed that he will be part of the most important project in the Multiverse Saga. According to Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange will play a crucial role in Avengers: Secret Wars. While he did not specify what that would be, the Doctor Strange star told Variety that he would appear in a lot of the 2027 Avengers movie and that his character would be central to Avengers: Secret Wars‘ story.

Doctor Strange’s Upcoming MCU Appearances Put Him In A Special Group

Marvel Studios Has Brought Many Exciting Heroes To Life

In the 17 years that the MCU has existed, Marvel Studios has used both major characters from the comics, like Spider-Man and the Hulk, and more obscure players, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy. Over the years, some of those heroes emerged as the ones who had a bigger role in the franchise, be it through the popularity of the character/actor resulting in many appearances or the hero playing a key role in the MCU’s overall story. Names like Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man are among the MCU’s top 10 characters in terms of appearances.

At the moment, Doctor Strange is not part of that list. Benedict Cumberbatch’s hero has seven MCU appearances. However, the confirmation that Strange will appear in the next two Avengers movies makes it nine. If Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange 3 tease pans out, he will have at least 10 MCU appearances in the coming years, which would be enough to have Strange enter the coveted MCU group. While players on the list, like Spider-Man and Thor, could also appear in the next Avengers movies, others like Happy Hogan and Black Widow might not, allowing Doctor Strange to climb up the ranks.

How Doctor Strange Could Keep The MCU Record In The Future

The Franchise Is Rumored To Be Headed Toward A Major Event

Every time he talks about Marvel Studios in interviews, Benedict Cumberbatch comments on how much he enjoys working with Marvel and how excited he is for his future as Doctor Strange in the MCU. That, connected with his recent comments about multiple projects he could appear in, makes it seem like Cumberbatch is in for the long haul at Marvel. That should help Doctor Strange climb up the list of MCU characters with the most appearances, as some of the heroes above him should not return to the MCU or could leave the franchise soon.

Avengers: Secret Wars is rumored to reboot the MCU. This would be in line with the comic book event of the same name that inspires the film. Given how the actor is excited about what the future may hold for Doctor Strange, if that comes to pᴀss, Cumberbatch is one of the most likely stars to stay in the MCU. With others like the original Avengers cast unlikely to stay for another decade in the MCU, Doctor Strange could become a central figure in the franchise, perhaps even having the most appearances out of all MCU heroes.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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