Benedict Cumberbatch was surprised and excited to hear that Robert Downey Jr. will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in the upcoming movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Cumberbatch found out about the casting during a live Marvel event at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024 and quickly texted Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige expressing his astonishment.
After his initial shock, Cumberbatch became enthusiastic about Downey Jr.’s role as Doctor Doom, even though not many details are known yet. His casting has led to speculation about the storylines for both Avengers movies. Until the SDCC announcement, Downey Jr.’s return was kept a secret, and other actors, like Don Cheadle (War Machine), also showed their surprise and excitement. Even James Gunn, co-CEO of DC, praised the casting choice.
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Cumberbatch’s own role in the upcoming Avengers films has changed; he was originally set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday but will now be absent from that film. However, Doctor Strange, his character, will be important in Avengers: Secret Wars, which is set to come out in May 2027. This fits with comic book storylines that heavily involve Doctor Strange.
There are also rumors that Chris Evans may be coming back for Avengers: Doomsday, but what role he will play is still not revealed. This adds to the excitement surrounding the movies as fans look forward to the new dynamics in the Avengers franchise.
Cumberbatch reflected on his journey in the MCU, mentioning that he initially felt stiff in his performance as Doctor Strange but has grown more comfortable over time, learning from the improvisational styles of actors like Downey Jr. and Tom Holland. He has appeared in several MCU films, including Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. His role in Avengers: Secret Wars will be significant as it marks his return after some time away.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to release in May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027. The casting decisions and Cumberbatch’s insights create a lot of excitement for the future of the MCU, hinting at new character relationships and plot developments. The planned release dates show the careful planning involved in the MCU franchise.
Source: @MyTimeToShineH
