Will Doctor Strange 3 happen? Benedict Cumberbatch reveals Marvel's production plans

As the filming date for Avengers: Doomsday comes closer and closer, Marvel fans were wondering about Doctor Strange 3. The Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness mid-credits hinted at the plot for the third movie.

It introduced Charlize Theron's Clea informing Strange about an incursion he caused and must fix immediately. However, that scene is from 2022, and a lot has changed since then.

Kang was still the main villain when that scene played out as it did in the movie. But now, Kang is out and the central villain of the MCU is Doctor Doom played by Robert Downey Jr. Recently, actor Benedict Cumberbatch sat down for an interview with Variety in which he confirmed he is discussing Doctor Strange 3 with Marvel.

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What did Benedict Cumberbatch say about Doctor Strange 3?

In that interview, the British actor revealed that discussions are underway for Doctor Strange 3, which is not officially announced yet. Cumberbatch also revealed that Marvel asked him his preferred choice for the writer and director for the third movie.

He also revealed that Doctor Strange is central to the MCU's future. His full quote praising Marvel Studio's collaborative approach was:

"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."

Apart from the third Doctor Strange movie, Cumberbatch also revealed that Stephen Strange won't appear in Avengers: Doomsday. He shared that Strange had an important role in the now-scrapped Avengers: Kang Dynasty. When asked why his character is not a part of Doomsday, the actor explained:

“The character not aligning with this part of the story.”

However, he went on to confirm that Strange will have a larger role in Doomsday's follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, which for now is expected to be released in May 2027. However, considering they don't have a story for Doctor Strange 3, it seems unlikely that the movie can be released before Secret Wars.

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Doctor Strange 3 rumor addressed

According to Game Rant, scooper Daniel Richtman revealed that the chances for the third Doctor Strange movie release between Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are slim. The two Avengers movies are scheduled for a May 2026 and 2027 release respectively.

Considering that the script for the movie isn't ready yet, it won't be surprising if this rumor pans out. Releasing the movie after Avengers: Secret Wars might also give the filmmakers to come up with a better story for the third movie and distance itself from the divisive Multiverse of Madness.

The Clea sub-plot can be resolved either in Doomsday, Spider-Man 4 which is expected to release in July 2026, or even Secret Wars.

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So, what are your hopes for Doctor Strange 3? Are you okay if it releases after the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga as Richtman's rumor suggested? Let us know.