Doctor Strange 3 is confirmed to be a topic of conversation at Marvel Studios, according to leading man Benedict Cumberbatch.
For being a major MCU character, Cumberbatch’s hero has only been used sparingly in live-action after the Infinity Saga. Doctor Strange had a major impact in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home before taking on his solo sequel, 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which was his last appearance.
Being so powerful, Strange is expected to be a major part of the MCU's future as universes collide and magic becomes a necessary weapon in upcoming battles. However, his solo outings will be just as vital to Marvel Studios' success, and the studio seems to know it, according to the latest update from Cumberbatch.
Benedict Cumberbatch Confirms Doctor Strange 3 Talks
Speaking with Variety, MCU star Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed discussions are underway between him and Marvel Studios regarding where his Doctor Strange goes in a potential Doctor Strange 3.
Looking ahead to the MCU's future, Cumberbatch indicated Strange is "quite central to where things might go" after last appearing in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Furthermore, he cemented that he and Marvel have talked about a third solo movie, revealing questions he's been asked such as, "Who do you want to write and direct the next one?"
Calling Strange "a very rich character to play," the MCU veteran teased countless ideas for where he could go moving forward:
"They are very open to discussing where we go next. 'Who do you want to write and direct the next one?' 'What part of the comic lore do you want to explore so that Strange can keep evolving?' He’s a very rich character to play. He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities, so there’s potent stuff to mess about with."
While this news about Benedict Cumberbatch's MCU future is certainly positive, the star unfortunately confirmed his character would not appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Thankfully, that is not expected to be the case for 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars.
What To Expect From Doctor Strange 3
Doctor Strange 3 is reportedly making headway in terms of development (see who is in talks to direct the MCU sequel here). However, there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered.
More than likely, the story is going to follow up on Doctor Strange 2's mid-credits scene which put Strange face-to-face with his on-again/off-again comic love interest, Clea.
Played by Charlize Theron, many expect them to dive headfirst into the Dark Dimension for a potential rematch with the all-powerful Dormammu. Unfortunately, due to the question of when the movie will be released in theaters, that could be one of numerous directions the sequel takes for its story.
Due to Strange's expected role in Avengers: Secret Wars, that film is sure to have major ramifications on where he goes in his solo story. The bigger question on that front is whether Doctor Strange 3 debuts in theaters before or after Avengers: Secret Wars.
Outside of Doomsday, the only Marvel Studios film confirmed for a 2026 release date is Spider-Man 4, which is due to debut two months after the fifth Avengers film. This means Doctor Strange 3 is highly unlikely to debut until at least after Doomsday, considering no filming information has been revealed yet.
The threequel could surely be released in early 2027 before Secret Wars, which would likely mean it will be used to set up the sixth Avengers film if that happens. However, Strange could also help kick off the MCU's next saga of films after the Multiverse Saga after being a key player in the upcoming Multiversal War.
No matter how the details play out, Strange's future in the MCU will be impossible to ignore as the powerful sorcerer continues to make his presence felt.
All of Benedict Cumberbatch's appearances as Doctor Strange can be streamed on Disney+ except for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
