'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness': Is Benedict Cumberbatch MCU Phase 4's leader?

Doctor Strange's prominence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe could possibly signal his role as the leader of Phase 4
A promotional photo from 'Doctor Strange'. (IMDb)
A promotional photo from 'Doctor Strange'. (IMDb)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe came to a monumental turning point with the release of ‘Avengers: Endgame’. The movie marked the beginning of Phase 4 where MCU will continue the story of the grand universe again with some old and new heroes.
The early days of the Marvel franchise saw Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man leading the way. Iron Man is referred not only as the most popular hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also as the leader of the Avengers. He was a genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist who used his brains to lead the Avengers into battle. It all changed in the MCU when the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ saw the loss of Black Widow, Steve Rogers, and Iron Man. However, his noble sacrifice means someone new needs to take charge. Could Doctor Strange be the leader of MCU Phase 4?

RELATED ARTICLES

Is Marvel introducing Illuminati? New 'Doctor Strange' trailer hints at EPIC crossover

Is Deadpool in ‘Multiverse of Madness’? Ryan Reynolds nearly spills the beans

Tony Stark aka Iron Man was the hero who launched the MCU and very much shaped the cinematic universe. He has long been the face of the MCU, until his sacrifice to defeat Thanos. Of course, that leads to the question of who will lead the MCU in 'Endgame's' wake. Doctor Strange played by Benedict Cumberbatch is a very powerful earthbound hero who deals directly with the biggest threats in the universe. Strange was also the man behind the plan to destroy Thanos. Therefore he acquires both the intelligence and the dark arts which makes him even more powerful than Iron Man.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. in 'Avenger's Infinity War' (Marvel Studios)

‘In Spider-Man: No Way Home’, Peter Parker reached out to Doctor Strange after his secret identity as Spider-Man was revealed by Mysterio. Luckily, Doctor Strange was eager to help him and guide him. Even though there was a lapse in judgment, we saw a new side of Doctor Strange who was willing to bend rules and go against expectations for the sake of the greater good similar to Captain America and Iron Man. By the end of the movie, when Peter finally agreed to wipe out his identity to keep the multiverse from being torn apart, Doctor Strange became quite emotional, knowing that he would no longer have any recollection of their time together. This indicates that in the short time that they've known each other, he'd become genuinely concerned about Spider-Man, just like Tony Stark before him — yet another reason why the sorcerer could work as the caring and strong leader of the Avengers. 

Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (Marvel Studios)

The tremendous potential of the character could mean that Benedict Cumberbatch would be the perfect candidate for the leader of MCU Phase 4. It is possible that in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, the sorcerer will rise to lead the MCU franchise.

The official poster of 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' will premiere on May 6 in theaters

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'In the Grey' opened to mixed reviews from critics, putting the focus on the possibility of a sequel
1 day ago
While critics panned it, John Travolta was awarded a special Palme d'Or at Cannes ahead of the world premiere of his directorial debut
1 day ago
Director Jeff Fowler shares a major ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’ update as fans begin discussing the movie’s next villain.
1 day ago
Amazon MGM Studios begins the search for the next 'James Bond' as speculation grows around several major Hollywood contenders.
2 days ago
Matt Reeves teases new additions to the ‘Batman: Part II’ cast as fans speculate Scarlett Johansson’s role may be related to Harvey Dent’s story
2 days ago
‘CoComelon’ heads to theaters on February 19, 2027, with a star-studded voice cast
2 days ago
Will Smith's next outing would be his first film since the 2024 action movie 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die,' starring alongside Martin Lawrence.
3 days ago
The upcoming film will see Brad Pitt returning to the big screen after the blockbuster hit 'F1' released in the summer of 2025.
3 days ago
Netflix announces the development of ‘Grown Ups 3’ with Adam Sandler returning as Executive Producer.
3 days ago
The filmmaker took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, revealing the slate of actors appearing in the sequel.
3 days ago