The actor had previously spoken about the uncertain future of the character.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Stephen Strange a.k.a Doctor Strange in the MCU. One of the leading figures of the Avengers, Strange, has made multiple appearances, including Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The character was last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Though Strange is an important character, his future in the MCU has been unclear. However, a recent update sees him taking a backseat to make way for Benedict Wong’s Wong to act as a recruiter. According to a new rumor, Wong, the current Sorcerer Supreme, will be recruiting new Avengers for the film Captain America: Brave New World.

Will Wong Replace Benedict Cumberbatch As The New Leader of The Avengers?

After the exit of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans as Iron Man and Captain America, the Avengers have been looking for a new leader. Most of the OG Avengers seem to be on different paths and have yet to come together again. Many new heroes have also popped up since then, such as Echo, She-Hulk, Kate Bishop, Ms. Marvel, and more.

While early films of the Multiverse Saga positioned Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange as a potential new leader of the MCU, the actor has been seen sparingly in the franchise since Avengers: Endgame. Apart from his solo films and the Avengers films, the character has only appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Thor: Ragnarok.

While his future is unclear since the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a new rumor suggests that Cumberbatch might be taking a backseat to give way to his friend and Sorcerer Supreme Wong to recruit new members to join the Avengers. According to scooper Alex P., Wong would be looking for new heroes in Captain America: Brave New World.

The upcoming Captain America film is set to star Anthony Mackie in the lead role along with Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Future in the MCU Is Still Unclear

The final scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shows Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange developing a third eye due to the Darkhold and going into the Dark Dimension with Charlize Theron’s Clea. The two characters have been known for having many adventures together in the comics, and the film teased a similar team-up.

While Doctor Strange, like the rest of the MCU, is slated to appear in the upcoming Avengers 5, the actor seemed to be unaware of any other developments regarding his character. In an interview with The Playlist, the actor spoke about the state of Strange,

Who knows!… We will see. We will find out. I’m not sure where he’s been and what he’s been up to and who with, but yeah, I know as little as you.

Though Avengers 5 is on the horizon and is boasting of a much larger ensemble than previous installments, it is yet to be seen how Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will be treated.