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Avengers: Endgame ending teased by Doctor Strange sequel confirmation

Benedict Cumberbatch will return as the superhero despite 'dying' in the latest Avengers film

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 13 December 2018 10:21 GMT
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Avengers: Endgame - trailer

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The confirmation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next sequel changes things in a big way.

It’s been announced that Scott Derrickson will return to direct a follow-up to Doctor Strange that will see Benedict Cumberbatch return as the superhero.

Considering the last time we saw the character he was turned to dust following Thanos’s destructive finger-snap at the end of Infinity War, this announcement serves as a big tease for forthcoming Avengers film, Endgame - especially when combined with the fact that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) – who also “died” – will return in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

This essentially confirms that the surviving Avengers (potentially with the help of Erik Selvig) will undo Thanos’s destruction.

Recall how Strange used the Time Stone to see over 14m possible outcomes for the war against Thanos (Josh Brolin)? He only saw one in which the villain was beaten, and it now seems that half the universe have to die in order for them to be resurrected (possibly in the form of time travel – step forward, Ant-Man).

In fairness, a Doctor Strange sequel doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t perish in Endgame; he could return for an adventure set in a different time period. Tilda Swinton’s character, the Ancient One, did keep harping on about “time being relative,” after all. If any sequel has earned the right to be told in non-linear fashion, it’s this one.

Despite this, Marvel president Kevin Feige confirmed back in June that Doctor Strange 2 would be set “a number of years on” from the first film, so Marvel fans should keep their fingers crossed for a happy ending in Avengers: Endgame.

The sequel is scheduled to begin production in early 2020 with a release slated for summer 2021.

Avengers: Endgame’s first trailer was released last week which fans have been perusing for details ever since, one of which may have confirmed the survival of yet another fan favourite.

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