Benedict Cumberbatch Omitted From 'Avengers,' Star Speaks Out

The Marvel star has weighed in on his omission.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a turbulent few years. While titles like Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) reminded audiences of the franchise’s staying power, other installments struggled to replicate the same impact. Captain America: Brave New World (2025) was positioned as a major pivot but failed to ignite the momentum Marvel needed.

Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* (2025) shifted the conversation. Backed by strong reviews, enthusiastic audience response, and a standout opening weekend, the film has helped restore optimism about Marvel’s long-term plans, but ultimately failed to make a significant dent.

Launching Phase Six, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) had a big opening weekend but also suffered a massive second-week drop. That said, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the First Family is key to the franchise moving forward.

One of the studio’s biggest challenges came in the fallout from Jonathan Majors’ dismissal. Majors was originally set to anchor the Multiverse Saga as Kang the Conqueror, with appearances across films and series culminating in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. After allegations of battery, assault, and defamation from his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, Marvel cut ties, forcing a major narrative reconfiguration.

That pivot has brought Doctor Doom to the center of Marvel’s new arc. At San Diego Comic-Con last year, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced that Anthony and Joe Russo would return to direct Avengers: Doomsday (formerly The Kang Dynasty) and Avengers: Secret Wars, arriving in 2026 and 2027.

Perhaps the most surprising reveal was Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback—not as Iron Man, but as Victor Von Doom. The Oppenheimer (2023) actor will make his MCU return in a very different capacity, stepping into one of Marvel’s most iconic villain roles. Downey Jr. debuted as Doom in a post-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, setting the stage for his expanded role in the Avengers films.

While Kang hasn’t been fully written out, the character’s trajectory has clearly shifted. The last appearances included Victor Timely in Loki season 2 and Kang’s battle with Ant-Man in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). But with Doom now positioned as the primary threat, Kang’s central role has effectively ended.

Speculation about Kang’s future remains, particularly after Oscar nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin, Sing Sing) confirmed he has spoken with Marvel Studios, though he clarified that the conversations weren’t about a specific role. The Council of Kangs leaves the door open for future variants, but all signs point to Doom leading the next chapter.

In a major live-stream earlier this summer, Marvel Studios announced the core Avengers: Doomsday cast, featuring over 20 returning and new characters.

Among the confirmed lineup: Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, James Marsden as Cyclops, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

Other names include Channing Tatum as Gambit, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler.

The ensemble also features David Harbour as Red Guardian, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.

Surprisingly missing from the lineup was a big name in the MCU: Benedict Cumberbatch.

Doctor Strange entered the MCU in Doctor Strange (2016), where Benedict Cumberbatch’s arrogant neurosurgeon turned mystic hero trained under the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and defeated Dormammu, taking his place as Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

He next appeared in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), guiding Thor and Loki to Odin, before playing a major role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). There, Strange wielded the Time Stone, foresaw the single path to victory, and was dusted after Thanos’ snap. His return in Avengers: Endgame (2019) was crucial, opening the portals for the climactic battle and signaling to Tony Stark before his sacrifice.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) brought Strange back to the forefront, as his spell to hide Peter Parker’s identity fractured the Multiverse and unleashed classic Spider-Man villains.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), directed by Sam Raimi, expanded his role further. Strange confronted alternate versions of himself, teamed with America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), and faced Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff’s descent into Scarlet Witch. The film ended with Strange’s ominous third-eye transformation, hinting at darker paths ahead.

However, despite being a crucial part of the MCU, Cumberbatch was not featured in the March 2025 cast reveal. The actor has now spoken out about his omission.

Speaking to Omelete during the release of his new movie, The Roses (2025), Cumberbatch responded bluntly when asked about his name not being part of the Doomsday cast. “Who knows? Maybe they just didn’t have enough chairs,” the actor said.

Other additions were reported—though not officially confirmed—for Doomsday earlier this year. According to Jeff Sneider of The InSneider, the next wave of names includes:

Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Benedict Wong (Wong), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel), Ke Huy Quan (Ouroboros/”O.B.”), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock), Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez), Sophia Di Martino (Sylvie), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man).

Additional rumored cast includes Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk), Kathryn Newton (Cassie Lang), Wunmi Mosaku (Hunter B-15), Lashana Lynch (Maria Rambeau/Binary), Famke Janssen (Jean Grey), Halle Berry (Storm), Kai Zen (Phyla), Owen Wilson (Mobius), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Charlize Theron (Clea), Hayley Atwell (Captain Carter), Chris Evans (Captain America), Bradley Cooper (Rocket Raccoon), Vin Diesel (Groot), and Maria Bakalova (Cosmo).

This evolving cast underscores the sweeping changes since the initial Kang-centric direction. While Jonathan Majors has expressed interest in reprising his role, Marvel’s current course suggests otherwise.

One notable absence is Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Reports indicate Peter Parker will sit out Avengers: Doomsday, as Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) will reportedly unfold at the same time.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty—What Might Have Been

Earlier this year, reports revealed details of what Avengers 5 could have looked like before the creative overhaul involving Destin Daniel Cretton and Michael Waldron.

“According to [Alex Perez], separate Avengers teams set out to battle Immortus, Centurion, and Rama-Tut, the three Kang Variants teased at the end of Quantumania,” Comic Book Movie reported. “However, the Conqueror Variant was going to return from ‘The Beyond’ in the third act to take revenge against his doppelgangers and become He Who Remains.”

“It’s said that Doctor Doom was never part of Marvel Studios’ original plans for the two-part Multiverse Saga finale; instead, he—and others—were to be revealed as being among those removed from the timeline by Kang to ensure they could thrive,” the outlet added. “However, once those Variants had been defeated, Doom was teased as the ‘evil’ they were trying to keep at bay with their actions.”

Those scrapped outlines suggest Doom was always lingering on the narrative sidelines. Now, he’s officially front and center. Many insiders expect Doom to anchor what some have already started calling the MCU’s “Mutant Saga,” as characters from Fox’s X-Men universe begin crossing into Marvel Studios’ continuity.

With Multiverse collisions taking shape, not every character is expected to make it out intact—as Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) made clear.

For the Russo Brothers, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are more than sequels—they’re a reset. As the directors put it, they mark a “new beginning,” designed to open fresh storytelling possibilities rather than close the book on what came before.

How do you feel about Doctor Strange being absent from Avengers: Doomsday? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!