Why Is Doctor Strange on Doctor Doom’s Side?

Marvel fans have spent the last several days spiraling over one very specific question, and it has nothing to do with box office numbers or new trailer drops. It is all about Doctor Strange, and whether the Sorcerer Supreme has actually switched sides to fight alongside Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘.

Leaked images reportedly showing Benedict Cumberbatch’s character in metallic armor, complete with a mask featuring a slot resembling a third eye, have set the fan theory machine into overdrive. The photos appear to show Doctor Strange wearing armor reminiscent of Doctor Doom, sparking speculation about his allegiance in the movie.

Doctor Strange’s Absence From the ‘Doomsday’ Cast

Part of what has fueled this theory in the first place is how conspicuously missing Strange has been from official casting announcements. Cumberbatch himself has confirmed he is not part of the stacked cast roster for ‘Avengers Doomsday’.

That absence lines up with where his story left off. At the end of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, Strange agreed to help Clea, played briefly by Charlize Theron, stop an Incursion Event he had caused, stepping through a portal that seemingly led into Dormammu’s old domain. If that thread is still unresolved, it would explain why he has not been seen helping his fellow Avengers gear up for their biggest fight yet.

Reports have also suggested he could turn up in a very different capacity than expected. Some outlets have floated the idea that Cumberbatch might actually be playing Boris, a character closely tied to Doctor Doom in the comics, which has only added more fuel to speculation about how deeply his character is wrapped up in Doom’s plans.

Newly surfaced images add another layer to the mystery. Recent photos reportedly show four of Doctor Doom’s followers, including Boris and the Latverian Witches, each wearing their own masks and Doom-inspired outfits. Fans believe these figures are far more significant than simple background soldiers, and two names in particular keep coming up in the discussion.

The Comic Book Roots Behind Doctor Strange Joining Doom

None of this would come completely out of nowhere for longtime readers of Marvel Comics. In the original ‘Secret Wars’ storyline, Strange actually teams up with Doom to try to stop a series of incursions from destroying the Multiverse.

That alliance eventually leads somewhere dramatic. The story culminates with Doom creating Battleworld, crowning himself its God Emperor, and making Strange his right hand man. Since ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is widely believed to be setting the stage for an adaptation of that exact storyline in ‘Avengers Secret Wars’, it would track for the filmmakers to give Strange a similar role heading into that fight.

Leaked concept art has reportedly reinforced this same direction. The artwork appears to depict Strange and Doom together on Battleworld, rather than in direct conflict with one another. That detail alone has convinced plenty of fans that this theory holds real weight rather than being pure wishful thinking.

There is also a redemption angle worth considering here. Since Strange’s own actions caused an incursion in the first place, joining forces with Doom could be framed as his way of trying to atone for that mistake.

What This Could Mean For Doctor Doom’s True Intentions

One theory making the rounds suggests Doom will not simply be playing a straightforward villain in this film. The idea is that Doom will act as he does in the comics, trying to stop incursions from destroying the multiverse, which puts him on a collision course with the MCU’s heroes even while his motives remain more complicated than pure conquest.

Having someone as trusted as Strange standing beside him would only make that framing land harder with audiences. Strange has been one of the MCU’s biggest heroes since his introduction in 2016, and has always been morally unshakable on the side of good, so putting him on Doom’s side would go a long way toward convincing viewers that Doom might genuinely believe he is doing the right thing, at least until ‘Avengers Secret Wars’ reveals he went about it the wrong way and Strange ultimately turns against him.

This would not even be the first time Strange has made a morally messy call for the greater good. He was willing to hand over the Time Stone in ‘Avengers Infinity War’ because he believed it was the only path to eventual victory, so if he is convinced Doom offers the best shot at saving reality this time, siding with him would fit as another calculated gamble rather than an actual betrayal.

Could This Set Up a Bigger Twist For ‘Secret Wars’?

There is a very real possibility that fans will not get clarity on any of this until the credits roll. One theory suggests Strange may stay absent for most of ‘Avengers Doomsday’ entirely, only surfacing in a post credits scene after Doctor Doom appears to win in the film’s closing moments, which would set the events of ‘Avengers Secret Wars’ into motion.

Whether Strange spends the movie as Doom’s secret ally, a captured pawn, or a hero waiting in the wings for the sequel, one thing is clear, Marvel Studios has fans more invested in a single leaked costume than almost anything else tied to this release. ‘Avengers Doomsday’ is set to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026.

So which version of this theory are you buying, a genuinely loyal Strange working alongside Doom for the greater good, or a hero playing the long game before the real fight begins in ‘Secret Wars’.