Benedict Cumberbatch Texted Kevin Feige ‘What the F—?’ Over Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom; They Won’t Face Off Until ‘Secret Wars’ in 2027

variety.com:

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Benedict Cumberbatch revealed during an interview for Variety’s Sundance cover that his immediate reaction to the news that Robert Downey Jr.

was returning to Marvel as the villainous Doctor Doom was complete and utter shock. After all, Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange shared many scenes with Downey’s Iron Man in films like “Avengers: Endgame.” Downey’s surprise Doctor Doom role was announced to the world at Comic-Con last year, and Cumberbatch immediately grabbed his phone to message Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. “I texted, ‘What the fuck?’ and then quickly added, ‘Good what-the-fuck.

I mean, good what-the-fuck,’” Cumberbatch said. Downey will debut as the Marvel villain in 2026’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” which will also mark the returns of longtime MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo.

But Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will not be facing off against Doom in that superhero tentpole. “Is that a spoiler?” he asks. “Fuck it!” According to Cumberbatch, plans for Doctor Strange to appear in the next “Avengers” movie were overhauled when Jonathan Majors got axed by Marvel after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.