Recent rumors suggest that Robert Downey Jr‘s Doctor Doom may have a surprising ally in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Multiple industry insiders are now reporting that Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Doctor Strange could work alongside Doom in the 2026 film.
The speculation comes from insider Jeff Sneider, who revealed on The Hot Mic podcast that he heard “Doctor Strange is with Doom… he’s on that side of things.” This potential partnership has caught many fans off guard, given Strange’s history as a defender of Earth and the multiverse.
The most shocking aspect of these reports is that Strange may not just be working with Doom, but could actually be considered a villain in the story. The Beyond Reporter claimed that Strange will not only ally with Doom but may also be perceived as an antagonist in Avengers: Doomsday.
Doctor Strange’s complicated path to villainy
Alex Perez from The Cosmic Circus provided additional context about Strange’s potential role. He reported that Strange will be tasked with fixing an incursion in Doomsday, “by any means necessary.” This suggests that Strange might be willing to make morally questionable choices to save the multiverse.
— The Beyond Reporter (@BeyondReporter_) August 22, 2025
Doctor Strange Will Work With Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday https://t.co/8BPPrzKqNi pic.twitter.com/WfEyReom2c
The timing makes sense given what happened to Strange at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He was taken away by Clea (Charlize Theron) because his actions triggered an incursion – essentially the collision of two Earths caused by multiverse problems. Perez noted an important detail about Strange’s situation: “This would be a good time to remind everyone that the flow of time is different in the Dark Dimension since it is basically nonexistent. So, even though it’ll have been 3.5–4 years since Stephen Strange has been on Earth, imagine how much time would have passed in the Dark Dimension?”
This time difference could explain why Strange might return with a changed perspective. After spending what could be centuries in the Dark Dimension dealing with multiverse threats, he may be willing to work with anyone who can help solve the crisis – even Doctor Doom, whose casting as Robert Downey Jr has already proven controversial.
Marvel fans familiar with the comics won’t be entirely surprised by this potential team-up. Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange have worked together before in comic storylines, particularly during major multiverse crises. The current comic run, “One World Under Doom,” even features Doom becoming the new Sorcerer Supreme. However, this would be the first time we see such an alliance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Doctor Strange will reportedly be working with Doctor Doom in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. pic.twitter.com/espktqdimF
— Inside Fandom (@Inside_Fandom) August 24, 2025
The multiverse crisis driving these unlikely partnerships appears to be more serious than anything seen before. According to The Cosmic Circus, “Even with Loki’s intervention at the end of his show in season 2, the Multiverse is still on the brink of collapse, and there’s only a handful of viable Earths left.” This desperate situation could force heroes like Strange to make difficult choices about who they work with.
Doctor Doom’s motivations in Avengers: Doomsday also seem to align with saving the multiverse, albeit through his own methods. Perez explained that Doom “sees the incursions that are happening as a danger to the Multiverse, and he wants to put a stop to it using a young Franklin Richards. He sees himself as the hero in this story and will do whatever it takes to make sure he stays on top.”
With both Strange and Doom viewing themselves as the heroes of their respective stories, their partnership could create a complex moral situation. The question of who will lead the Avengers against such formidable opponents becomes even more important when two of the most powerful heroes might be working for the other side.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to release on December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027. While these rumors remain unconfirmed by Marvel Studios, the reports from multiple industry insiders suggest that fans should prepare for a very different kind of Doctor Strange when he returns to the big screen.
