--- ---  # How _Doctor Strange_ Hints at Big Changes for the Marvel Universe  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Nov 4, 2016 11:00 AM UTC  From left: Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: Civil War, and Doctor Strange. From left: Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: Civil War, and Doctor Strange.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Nov 4, 2016 11:00 AM UTC **Warning:** _Spoilers for_ [_Doctor Strange_](http://time.com/4420799/benedict-cumberbatch-doctor-strange-trailer/) _ahead._ Marvel’s movies are becoming increasingly connected: the last [_Captain America_ movie](http://time.com/4319823/captain-america-civil-war-marvel-movies-next/) featured no less than 12 comic book superheroes. But [_Doctor Strange_](http://time.com/4496007/doctor-strange-benedict-cumberbatch-transformation/), out Nov. 4, is refreshingly estranged from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Someone who has never seen a Marvel movie—which, given that there are 14, would be quite a feat—could walk into _Doctor Strange_ cold and still keep up with its twists and turns. That may not be the case going forward, however, as the film’s conclusion and two [end-credits sequences](http://time.com/4553274/doctor-strange-mid-credits-scene-marvel/) begin to tie the mystical aspects of Doctor Strange’s world into Marvel’s sprawling storylines. ### **How does** **_Doctor Strange_** **fit into the rest of the Marvel universe?** Dr. Stephen Strange is a former surgeon who wields mystical powers, the dangers of which dwarf the alien threat of the _Avengers_ films. However, Marvel didn’t pass up a chance to connect Benedict Cumberbatch’s Strange into the larger MCU at the end of the film. Once Strange has defeated the bad guys, Wong tells him that the Eye of Agamotto—the eye-shaped necklace that allows Cumberbatch to fast-forward and rewind time—is an Infinity Stone. We’ve seen other Infinity Stones in the Marvel Universe before—the Tesseract in _Avengers_ is one, the Orb in _Guardians of the Galaxy_ is another. They’ll play a big role in _Avengers: Infinity Wars_ (more on that later), as will Strange. Marvel has already confirmed that Cumberbatch will reprise the role in the next _Avengers_ movie, due out in 2018. But you won’t have to wait two years to see Strange on screen again. In a post-credits sequence of _Doctor Strange_, the magician offers to help Thor track down his father, Odin, which means Benedict Cumberbatch is likely joining the cast of _Thor: Ragnarok_ along with Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Hopkins (Odin) and Cate Blanchett (baddie Hela). ### **Will there be more** **_Doctor Strange_** **movies?** Marvel hasn’t announced a second _Doctor Strange_ movie yet, but the post-credits sequence strongly suggests that there will be one. In it, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo parts ways with Strange, angry that The Ancient One and then Strange himself harnessed dark magic to save the world. Breaking the rules should have consequences, he argues: “The bill comes due.” Mordo also seeks out Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt), the man who originally told Stephen Strange how to find the Ancient One. The once-paralyzed Pangborn has been using magic to walk. Mordo tells Pangborn that he’s been meditating and decided the world’s problems are due to “too many sorcerers” as he steals Pangborn’s magic from him, leaving Pangborn crumpled on the ground. The scene strongly suggests that Mordo will turn into Doctor Strange’s next antagonist. (I hesitate to use the word villain since technically it’s Strange who is willing to bend the rules and use dark magic, not Mordo.) Mordo could show up in another Marvel movie—_Ragnarok_ or even _Infinity Wars_—but given how self-contained the first _Doctor Strange_ film was, he likely will not battle Strange until _Doctor Strange 2_. ### **What’s next for Marvel?** **_Guardians of the Galaxy 2_** **– May 5, 2017** James Gunn will return to direct the sequel to the breakout outer space flick starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper and Dave Bautista as the Guardians team. The new installment will also introduce Star Lord’s long-lost father, Ego, played by Kurt Russell. **_Spider-Man: Homecoming_** **– July 17, 2017** Director Jon Watts has [compared his Spider-Man reboot](http://time.com/4420755/spider-man-homecoming-footage-comic-con/) to a mashup of a John Hughes movie and a superhero film. Tom Holland, who debuted as _Spider-Man_ in _Captain America: Civil War_ will play a high-school age Spidey. Other cast members include Donald Glover, Zendaya, Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. (Here’s hoping we get more Aunt May-Tony Stark scenes.) **_Thor: Ragnarok_** **– Nov. 3, 2017** If you were wondering why Thor and Hulk were missing from _Civil War_ it’s because they’re off on their own adventure. Mark Ruffalo’s big green dude joins Chris Hemsworth’s Norse god for a space battle against Hela, goddess of death, played by Cate Blanchett. Cumberbatch is also rumored to make an appearance in the film as Doctor Strange. **_Black Panther_** **– Feb. 16, 2018** After making his [onscreen debut](http://time.com/4314966/black-panther-marvel-captain-america/) in _Captain America: Civil War,_ Black Panther is getting his own film. The Ryan Coogler-directed story will focus on Black Panther’s homeland of Wakanda, and the star-studded cast includes Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (villain Erik Killmonger), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia) and Forest Whitaker (Zuri). **_Avengers: Infinity War_** **– May 4, 2018** The Russo brothers, who directed _Civil War_, will also tackle the next _Avengers_ movie. In _Infinity War_, Thanos (the big purple guy played by Josh Brolin in _Guardians of the Galaxy_) will try to collect all six Infinity Stones. Together, they fill the [Infinity Gauntlet](http://time.com/3545717/marvel-universe-upcoming-movies/), a sort of glove that gives Thanos the power to destroy the universe. For those keeping count at home, five of the Infinity Stones have shown up in the Marvel movies so far: The Tesseract (_Captain America_, _The Avengers_), Aether (_Thor: The Dark World_), Orb (_Guardians of the Galaxy_), the stone in Vision’s head (_Captain America: Civil War_) and the Eye of Agamotto (_Doctor Strange_). If he succeeds, he can destroy the universe. Presumably the Avengers will have to join together with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange to defeat Thanos. **_Ant-Man and The Wasp_** **– July 6, 2018** As the ending of _Ant-Man_ suggested, Evangeline Lilly will finally get to suit up as the Wasp in this sequel. (It’s also the first Marvel superhero movie with a female character’s name in the title. It took a decade for that to happen.) Director Peyton Reed has assured fans that Ant-Man and the Wasp will be a team—she is not a supporting character. **_Captain Marvel_** **– March 8, 2019** Marvel announced at Comic-Con in July that Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson [will play Carol Danvers](http://time.com/4420882/brie-larson-captain-marvel-comic-con/), a.k.a. Captain Marvel. The movie will be Marvel’s first superhero film with a female protagonist. Carol Danvers is a fighter pilot with the ability to fly and shoot beams out of her hands and in comic book lore has teamed up with both the Avengers and the Guardians to save the world. 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