Today we ask a simple question: Who will be the anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward?
From the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise’s ‘anchor’ was Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man. You could also put Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America in that bracket. In more recent years, the anchor has been Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. As the franchise enters a new era, who can fans expect to be the new anchor? And is it still Doctor Strange?
Most fans presume that Doctor Strange will remain the character that galvanises together the franchise. He started to take the forefront in Infinity War, before helping usher in the multiverse saga in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and of course, was played a key role in Spider-Man: No Way Home. We know that Strange will appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday — along with an enormous slate of other heroes — but will he continue to be the glue that brings everyone together? Well, according to Cumberbatch himself, the answer remains with MCU boss Kevin Feige. “You have to ask Kevin,” the actor recently told Screen Rant.
It’s clear that Doctor Strange will continue to play a huge role in the MCU moving forward, but as for whether he’ll continue to be the anchor character, it remains to be seen. Back in 2022, Kevin Feige himself declared that Strange has “become the anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the only actor capable of guiding us through the madness of the multiverse”. The franchise has grown fast since then however, adding in a ton of major heroes in recent years, not least Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), the leader of the Fantastic Four.
Benedict Cumberbatch wants a more hands-on approach in Doctor Strange 3.
Additionally, while Strange will return in Doomsday, his next solo movie won’t be coming anytime soon. Doctor Strange 3 is in early stages of development; there’s no confirmed scriptwriter or director yet. That said, Cumberbatch himself is keen on taking a more hands-on approach to the movie. He stressed that “the amount of collaborative input I’m allowed to have in that universe,” is paramount, adding: “But collaboration is collaboration. You’re working with the most amazing people and in the most extraordinary original IPs.”
As for Doctor Strange 3, he’s excited to get started — especially with a more creative approach. “Bring it on. I love being part of a creative process. So yeah, where I can contribute, I do. And it’s exciting to see where he’s going to go next.”
Avengers: Doomsday premieres December 18, 2026.
