Okay, let's be real – trying to figure out what's happening with Doctor Strange 3 feels like trying to navigate the Mirror Dimension after three espresso shots. Seriously, it’s 2025, we’re supposedly deep into the Multiverse Saga, and my dude Stephen Strange? He’s been MIA on the big screen since Multiverse of Madness back in 2022! I’m just sitting here, clutching my Cloak of Levitation (well, my fuzzy bathrobe), refreshing news sites like a man possessed. And the latest from the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Benedict Cumberbatch? Let's just say it's... cryptic. Like, 'ask Kevin Feige' cryptic. Oof. Way to leave a fan hanging, Benny! 😅

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The Great 'Anchor of the MCU' Shrug-Off

So, remember when Big Boss Feige himself called Doctor Strange the "anchor of the MCU"? That felt huge, right? Like, confirmation that Strange was gonna be the glue holding this whole multiversal mess together. But when someone actually asked Cumberbatch about it recently? His response was basically a masterclass in polite deflection: "You have to ask Kevin." Classic. 🤷‍♂️ It’s like asking your cat where your keys are – you get a blank stare and maybe a slow blink. Is Stephen still the anchor? Is he adrift? Did the anchor get sucked into a random dimension? Who knows! But man, that $955.7 million Multiverse of Madness haul proves people want more of his brand of magical mayhem. That movie was pure chaos magic on screen, and we loved it.

Director Roulette & Benny's 'No Comment' Policy

Then there’s the director drama. Rumors swirled faster than Wong opening portals that Sam Mendes (Skyfall, anyone?) might be up for helming Strange 3. Sounds kinda awesome, right? But ask Cumberbatch about it? Oh boy, he shut that down faster than Strange banishing a demon. He basically said talking about it wasn't worth the "backlash, trouble, and the boring nature of any answer following me around forever." Translation: "Please, for the love of Dormammu, stop asking me stuff I can’t answer without causing a Twitter meltdown!" Can’t blame him, honestly. The Marvel rumor mill chews people up and spits them out. Still… a Mendes-directed Strange flick? My brain is doing happy little multiversal jumps just thinking about the visuals!

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The Avengers Doomsday Debacle & Secret Wars Hype

Remember the big Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement back in March? Yeah, me neither. Wait, no, I do! Because everyone freaked out when Cumberbatch wasn't there. No chair for the Sorcerer Supreme! Panic ensued. Was he dusted again? Trapped in a pocket dimension? Just stuck in traffic? Turns out, Benny just… goofed. He admitted in January he is in the next Avengers flick, clarifying, "I got that wrong, I am in the next one." Phew! Crisis averted. And then he dropped the real spicy meatball: he confirmed to Variety he’s in Avengers: Secret Wars (2026, baby!), teasing that Doctor Strange is "quite central to where things might go." Well, duh! After Multiverse of Madness and that whole incursion business? He’s basically the guy holding the map (or trying to) while everyone else is arguing about snacks. This multiverse road trip needs its designated driver, and Strange, with his slightly shaky moral compass and penchant for universe-breaking decisions, is it.

Where Does That Leave Strange 3? The Great Unknown

So, here’s the million-dollar question (or should I say, the $955.7 million question?): When do we actually get Doctor Strange 3? Phase 6? Phase 7? Phase 'After We Clean Up This Multiversal Spaghetti'? Your guess is as good as mine, pal. Cumberbatch himself seems totally up for it, though. He’s talked about loving the "collaborative input" he gets in the MCU, working with "amazing people" on "extraordinary original IPs." His final word? "So yeah, bring it on. I love being part of a creative process... it's exciting to see where he's going to go next." That’s the energy! He’s ready to throw down more spells, crack more dry one-liners, and probably make another universe-altering questionable choice. Sign me up!

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So, What's Next for the Master of the Mystic Arts?

Honestly, trying to map out Stephen Strange's future feels like trying to chart the multiverse itself – messy, unpredictable, and likely to give you a headache. We know he's showing up in Secret Wars, which is gonna be bonkers. But what about his own story? Multiverse of Madness left him with:

  • A third eye (thanks, Darkhold corruption! 👁️)

  • A dead girlfriend (RIP Christine variant)

  • A universe he kinda-sorta broke

  • And a whole lot of unresolved trauma

That's one heck of a therapy bill waiting to happen. Where does he go from here? Does he lean into the darker power he tapped into? Seek redemption? Try to find another Christine? Just focus on teaching Wong how to properly use a Wi-Fi password? The possibilities are as infinite as the universes he protects... or endangers. The real magic trick will be weaving his personal chaos back into the colossal tapestry of the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Can he truly be the anchor Feige claimed? Or is he destined to be the wild card, the unpredictable spark that either saves everything or accidentally sets it all on fire? Only time (and maybe a few well-placed runes) will tell. Pass the popcorn... and maybe a protective amulet.