Major Avengers: Doomsday Theory Explains Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Is The Cause Of RDJ’s Doctor Doom Arriving In The MCU
Avengers: Doomsday’s biggest question revolves around how Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a new theory explains how Doctor Strange might have a hand in that situation. Having played Iron Man for more than a decade, leading some of the best movies in the MCU, Downey’s announcement as Doctor Doom took the world by surprise. Due to his past as the franchise’s most prominent hero, many theories have since emerged about how Doctor Doom could be played by Marvel’s Tony Stark and what that means for the upcoming Avengers movies.
Avengers: Doomsday’s story is safely locked away by Marvel. The only details that have come out about the film are that it features Doctor Doom’s MCU debut and some of the heroes and stars that will return to fight him. Recently, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange was involved in a confusing situation. After saying that he was excited to film the project, the actor changed his comments and claimed Doctor Strange no longer aligned with Avengers: Doomsday’s story. However, Cumberbatch has since backtracked on those claims, and with Doctor Strange now confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, he could cause Doctor Doom’s debut.
Marvel Studios Has Established The Importance Of Incursions
The Multiverse Events Are Key To The Next Avengers Movies
In Marvel Comics, Incursions are central to the plot of Secret Wars, which will be the Avengers movie that follows 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. Both in the comics and the MCU, Incursions are events that happen when two Earths collide, be it through a single character from one coming to the other or more. That can lead to the total destruction of one or both universes. Years before Avengers: Secret Wars, the MCU’s Multiverse Saga has already begun the process of setting up Incursions for the crossover event by having a few pop up around the franchise.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the first MCU project to show one — at least the start of an Incursion — as Doctor Strange used a spell that stopped several multiverse characters from entering the MCU and destabilizing Earth-616, which could have destroyed it. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness then not only explained what Incursions are, but showed the aftermath of one and teased others. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had Kang the Conqueror claim he started a multiversal war after discovering how “endless incursions” were coming. The Marvels almost ended with an Incursion, which was stopped in time.
Doctor Strange Is A Major Threat To The Multiverse
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was the first MCU project to really focus on Incursions. The film did a great job of exploring the multiverse and Doctor Strange’s role in it. Upon arriving on Earth-838, Strange meets the Illuminati. The group of heroes from that universe included a variant of Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier, John Krasinski’s Reed Richards, Anson Mount’s Black Bolt, and more. It was during the meeting with the Illuminati that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Marvel character was told that the Scarlet Witch was not the multiverse’s main threat, with Doctor Strange serving that role.
There have been a few Incursions in the MCU, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showed how different versions of the character caused Incursions. The reason for that was Doctor Strange’s use of the Darkhold. The Earth-838 version of the sorcerer was killed by the rest of the Illuminati for the multiversal mess he made by dreamwalking. Then there was Sinister Strange, who started killing his variants and ended up creating an Incursion that killed everyone in his universe but him. Finally, Clea appears at the end of the film to reveal Earth-616 Strange caused an Incursion.
However, that is not where it stops. The animated What If…? series might not have been part of the MCU’s main universe, but it helped show how other Doctor Strange variants offer a threat to universes. Strange Supreme destroyed his universe by trying to save Christine Palmer, which he could not do, as it was an Absolute Point in time, meaning her death was an event that was set in stone for that timeline. Strange Supreme later sacrifices many multiverse heroes and villains to try to revive his universe, showing how much of a threat Doctor Strange can be.
CORRECTION 2/4/25: Mercedes says that the GT63 S E Performance sedan has been on sale in the U.S. since the 2024 model year and arrived at dealerships in summer 2024. Mercedes says that the model year changeover for 2025 is currently underway, with the E Performance sedan gaining new optional MANUFAKTUR Signature paint choices for 2025.
UPDATE 2/3/25: The Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance sedan, originally set to reach the U.S. for the 2023 model year before being delayed to 2024, is now finally set to become available in the U.S. for the 2025 model year. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine is still paired with a single electric motor. This story has been updated to reflect minor changes to specifications. Mercedes claims the sedan will go from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and will top out at 197 mph. Pricing for the GT63 S E Performance will start at $200,100.
Lost in the horde of online commenters lamenting the replacement of the V-8 with a four-cylinder engine in the latest Mercedes-AMG C63 was a new nameplate, E Performance—and some of these new hybrid models do in fact still use V-8 engines. In the U.S., we’ve gotten the S63 super-limo so far, and this hybrid setup actually first appeared two years ago on the GT63 S E Performance. Originally slated to debut in the United States for 2023, the hybrid four-door has been delayed. When it finally does arrive stateside, however, it will sport a sharp new face, with Mercedes revealing a refreshed version for Europe.
When asked about the E Performance’s absence, Mercedes told us that it would reach the United States for the 2024 model year with more details to come as part of a future announcement. We have a strong feeling that the U.S.-bound E Performance will include the revised bodywork from the new European model.
The most obvious change is the grille, which now sits within a larger opening with a black intake below the chrome vertical strakes, drawing inspiration from the new Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe. The bumper looks cleaner, with thin air vents on the outside and a subtler lower grille opening. Mercedes also updated the features list, although it’s unclear how Mercedes will package U.S.-market models. There is now a standard electric sunroof and wireless phone charger for the rear seats, and the standard Burmester surround sound system incorporates Dolby Atmos spacial audio, like the new E-class and other updated Mercedes-Benz models.
The hybrid powertrain is unchanged, with the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 paired to an electric motor on the rear axle for a total of 831 horsepower and 1032 pound-feet of torque. That thrust is sent through a nine-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels, with the electric motor powered by a 4.8-kWh battery. The E Performance also has air suspension as standard, and a new color, Opalite White Metallic, joins the lineup. Mercedes should reveal information about the U.S.-spec GT63 S E Performance in the coming months.
