Benedict Cumberbatch Teases Doctor Strange Return

Talking at the JW3 Speaker Series, the actor dropped word that there are “some Marvel capers in the making next year.”

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios' 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.'

When we last saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, he was being spirited away on a new adventure by Charlize Theron’s Clea, a character fans have long wanted to see adapted from Marvel Comics.

Now, according to Cumberbatch himself, we might have more of an idea when we’ll see the good –– and not always so good –– Doctor, as talking during a long interview for the JW3 Speaker series, he said, “there are some Marvel capers in the making next year.”

Intriguing!

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

"Enter a new dimension of Strange."

PG-132 hr 6 minMay 6th, 2022

Watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Online

Where we left Doctor Strange

(L-R): Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, and Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in Marvel Studios' 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

At the end of 2022’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, Strange, freshly returned from his trip to parallel worlds and a battle against Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff (who was looking to harness the power of the multiverse to be reunited with her children), is insisting to Wong (Benedict Wong) that he hasn’t been affected by the dark magic of the tome known as the Darkhold.

But moments later, as he walks down the street he collapses to his knees in pain, screaming as a third eye (similar to one used by his “dark” alternate self in another universe) opens on his forehead.

In the first post-credits scene for the movie, we learn what happens next, more or less. Jumping forward in time, the scene follows Strange out for another walk with a scarf on, only to find himself confronted by a purple-costumed woman who appears from another dimension.

Her name is Clea, and she has a bone to pick with Strange. “You caused an incursion, and we’re gonna fix it,” she tells him. This calls back to a threat mentioned in the main body of the film, where multiversal travel is noted to risk “incursions” where two universes collide, and one is destroyed.

Insisting he’s not afraid, Strange transforms his scarf into his usual cloak and he heads off with Clea.

What does the future hold for Doctor Strange?

(L to R) Charlize Theron and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.'

Naturally, since this involves Marvel, there is very little to go on besides Cumberbatch’s statement since the studio is notoriously tricky in what it reveals ahead of time.

We don’t, therefore, know whether this will be a new stand-alone Strange adventure or point to him teaming up for the new ‘Avengers’ movies planned for the future.

While Disney/Marvel’s release calendar is full for the next couple of years, there are some “untitled” slots that a new Strange movie could fill.

And according to ‘Multiverse of Madness’ writer Michael Waldron, that could well include Clea.

Here’s what he told Gizmodo:

“We knew that we wanted to introduce Clea. She’s Strange’s great love in the comics and it was felt to me like Strange wasn’t at the point at the start of our movie where he was ready to meet the love of his life. It felt like we had to close the loop with he and Christine Palmer. And so, after she gives him her wisdom to not be afraid of loving someone, then it felt like we were right to tease what could be eventually with he and Clea.”

But then there are also the Avengers movies –– ‘The Kang Dynasty’ and ‘Secret Wars’, which are scheduled for 2026 and 2027. There’s a fair chance that Cumberbatch will be back in action besides other Marvel characters, even if those movies have recently been pushed back by the ongoing writers’ strike and potential actors’ industrial action.

If you’re eagerly anticipating a Strange return, now you have more reason to be excited.