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Benedict Cumberbatch Reacts to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Casting: "What the F**k?"
Not even Doctor Strange could have foreseen this twist. During Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con panel last year, the bombshell announcement came that Robert Downey Jr. would be making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as the hero Tony Stark, but as the villain Victor von Doom inAvengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.The news shocked fans and left Downey’s former co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, just as floored. In a recently interview with Variety, Cumberbatch revealed he was watching the announcement live when the revelation hit. His immediate reaction was a text to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige: “What the f—?”Of course, Cumberbatch was quick to clarify: “And then quickly added, ‘Good what-the-f—.’ I mean, good what-the-f—.”Cumberbatch has had an wild journey in the MCU since debuting as Stephen Strange in 2016’s Doctor Strange. After pivotal roles in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, fans expected Strange to have a significant role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. But according to Cumberbatch, plans have shifted. He said: “Strange is taking a bit of a hiatus during Doomsday,” However, he teased that the Sorcerer Supreme will return in Secret Wars, where he’ll play a “quite central” role in the climactic conclusion to Marvel’s Multiverse Saga.Cumberbatch shared his excitement saying: “I’m really excited not only to work with the Russo brothers again but also to have Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. I think there’s going to be some really cool developments ahead, and I’m excited to see what happens next.”It will be interesting to see how Strange is utilized in Secret Wars. In theSecret Wars storyline from 2015, Strange served as the Sheriff of Agamotto and right-hand man to God Emperor Doom. We just don’t know if the film follow this narrative.Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released in May 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive in May 2027.
Not even Doctor Strange could have foreseen this twist. During Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con panel last year, the bombshell announcement came that Robert Downey Jr. would be making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as the hero Tony Stark, but as the villain Victor von Doom inAvengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
The news shocked fans and left Downey’s former co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, just as floored. In a recently interview with Variety, Cumberbatch revealed he was watching the announcement live when the revelation hit.
His immediate reaction was a text to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige: “What the f—?”
Of course, Cumberbatch was quick to clarify: “And then quickly added, ‘Good what-the-f—.’ I mean, good what-the-f—.”
Cumberbatch has had an wild journey in the MCU since debuting as Stephen Strange in 2016’s Doctor Strange. After pivotal roles in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, fans expected Strange to have a significant role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
But according to Cumberbatch, plans have shifted. He said: “Strange is taking a bit of a hiatus during Doomsday,” However, he teased that the Sorcerer Supreme will return in Secret Wars, where he’ll play a “quite central” role in the climactic conclusion to Marvel’s Multiverse Saga.
Cumberbatch shared his excitement saying: “I’m really excited not only to work with the Russo brothers again but also to have Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. I think there’s going to be some really cool developments ahead, and I’m excited to see what happens next.”
It will be interesting to see how Strange is utilized in Secret Wars. In theSecret Wars storyline from 2015, Strange served as the Sheriff of Agamotto and right-hand man to God Emperor Doom. We just don’t know if the film follow this narrative.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released in May 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive in May 2027.
