Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
It looks like Marvel Studios is finally ready to pay off Doctor Strange‘s twist ending in 2022’s Multiverse of Madness.
Released as part of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended with Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular Master of the Mystic Arts developing a third eye as a result of using the Darkhold earlier in the movie.
In Multiverse of Madness’ mid-credits scene, Strange seems to have accepted his third eye, brandishing it after being approached by Charlize Theron’s Clea to travel into the Dark Dimension to repair an incursion he triggered. It remains the last time that fans have seen Doctor Strange in the MCU.
Avengers: Secret Wars may finally pay off Doctor Strange 2’s twist ending
Cumberbatch is expected to return as Doctor Strange in Avengers: Doomsday, although his casting remains unconfirmed by Marvel Studios at this time. As for whether the MCU hero will be sporting a third eye in Doomsday, the answer seems to be no, as noted scooper James Mack recently hinted on X that the third eye won’t return until Avengers: Secret Wars.
After sharing a gif of an eyeball on X with the caption, “[eyeball emoji] in Secret Wars.”
(?) in Secret Wars pic.twitter.com/5XGpuTRmgB— James Mack (@JamesMackwl) February 8, 2026
Mack further teased the post, replying to a fan that “it has to do with a man with one very big eye.
it has to do with a man with one very big eye… https://t.co/oz0B2rh2PD— James Mack (@JamesMackwl) February 12, 2026
Many fans quickly deciphered that Mack’s teases were related to Doctor Strange, although it’s worth noting that the MCU’s version of the third eye is noticeably smaller (a normal-sized eye) than the one that the character was given in the comics.
Of course, not every fan believes Mack is teasing Doctor Strange’s MCU return. Some theorized that the post was hinting at the MCU debut of The Orb, an obscure Ghost Rider supervillain who wears a spherical helmet modeled to resemble a giant eyeball.
All will be revealed when Avengers: Secret Wars arrives in theaters on December 17, 2027.
