
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange experienced a particularly confusing journey leading up to the announcement of the Avengers: Doomsday cast. He was notably absent from Marvel’s initial cast reveal in March 2025, a livestream event that confirmed the involvement of many other heroes, including Chris Hemsworth as Thor and the X-Men. This omission upset fans. Cumberbatch then added to the confusion, initially telling Variety that his character didn’t fit into the current storyline, before later clarifying at Sundance that he would be in the next film.
Things are heating up for Marvel fans! A recent Instagram post from Robert Downey Jr. is adding to the speculation about Doctor Doom being a major villain in a future Marvel project. The artwork, designed like a comic book panel, depicts Doctor Doom standing over an Easter basket filled with decorated eggs. Each egg features the symbol of a different Marvel hero or team, and hidden among them is an egg with a design resembling the iconic circular window from Doctor Strange’s home, the Sanctum Sanctorum.

The distinctive, web-like window from the Sanctum is a well-known image in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s prominently displayed in Doctor Strange’s films and played a crucial role in the visuals of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. When Robert Downey Jr. posted a recent image featuring an egg with a similar design, fans quickly noticed the connection. This follows another hint – a previous photo related to Doomsday – which also included the window and other clues about Doctor Strange’s return.

The basket also includes items representing confirmed characters from the movie, like Captain America’s shield and the X-Men logo. However, an egg-shaped object referencing Doctor Strange is particularly noteworthy. This is because of the uncertainty surrounding his participation and what his involvement could mean for the future of the films.
Does Doctor Strange Belong in the Avengers: Doomsday Roster?
It was always puzzling that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange wasn’t included in the initial cast list for Doomsday. The last scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showed him and Clea facing a multiversal crisis – the same kind of event Doomsday focuses on. Given his obvious connection to the problem, leaving Strange out of the story felt odd.
The comic series Secret Wars by Jonathan Hickman, which heavily influenced Avengers: Doomsday, showed Doctor Strange working for Doctor Doom on a planet called Battleworld. Given this storyline, it makes sense that Strange will appear in the movie, whether or not it follows the comic exactly.
It also seems likely Marvel is holding Doctor Strange back for the Secret Wars movie, potentially alongside Spider-Man and other heroes who are currently absent. He could be a crucial asset in the final battle, appearing as a powerful surprise for the heroes when things look bleak. If that’s the plan, a brief appearance in Doomsday would make sense, setting up a bigger role for him in Secret Wars.
There’s a lot of talk that Avengers: Doomsday will finally give us the exciting multiverse adventures that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hinted at but didn’t fully explore. If that’s the case, Doctor Strange will definitely be a key character in Doomsday.
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2026-04-07 19:34