Online Leak Reveals Doctor Strange’s Sorcerer Supreme Replacement, First Look Given

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is entering a new era, and a surprising leak from the comic side of the franchise just added even more fuel to the fire.

After several installments with mixed results at the box office, Phase Six kicked off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). The film opened strong before taking a sharp drop in its second week, though Disney CEO Bob Iger made it clear that Marvel’s First Family would be “central to the future of the franchise.”

Ahead of the debut of Phase Six—and with Kang’s storyline no longer intact—Marvel shifted its focus to long-term planning centered on Victor Von Doom. At last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced that Anthony and Joe Russo are officially directing Avengers: Doomsday (formerly The Kang Dynasty) and Avengers: Secret Wars, with release dates set for December 2026 and 2027.

One of the biggest surprises involves Robert Downey Jr., who will return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. His appearance during the post-credits stinger in The Fantastic Four: First Steps cemented him as a major figure in the unfolding saga.

The official cast reveal for Avengers: Doomsday was unveiled during a livestream earlier this year and brought together a massive line-up of familiar heroes and brand-new faces. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Doctor Doom, joining Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, James Marsden as Cyclops, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

Also confirmed are Channing Tatum as Gambit, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler.

Additional names include David Harbour as Red Guardian, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.

But viewers immediately noticed that one major Marvel icon was missing: Benedict Cumberbatch.

Since first appearing in 2016, Doctor Strange has woven through multiple MCU entries, including Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), where he opened the portals that launched the final battle. He later returned for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), which introduced his mysterious third eye.

Despite that history, Stephen Strange was absent from the Doomsday lineup unveiled in March 2025. While promoting The Roses (2025), Cumberbatch was asked about his omission. Speaking to Omelete, he said, “Who knows? Maybe they just didn’t have enough chairs.” Several other MCU veterans, like Mark Ruffalo and Brie Larson, were also not included on the roster.

Marvel Comics has officially announced a new comic book series titled “Sorcerer Supreme,” launching in December and starring Wanda Maximoff as its central figure. The story positions Scarlet Witch at the forefront of Marvel’s mystical narrative as she takes on a title long tied to Doctor Strange. The series is written by Steve Orlando, with art by Bernard Chang and main and variant covers by Leirix. Russell Dauterman designed Wanda’s new costume and will create variant covers for the first five issues.

Within the story, following the fallout of “One World Under Doom,” Doctor Doom’s defeat leaves the Sorcerer Supreme role unfilled. Wanda steps forward, but the Vishanti turn her away and instead appoint Agatha Harkness. After confronting Agatha, Wanda wakes in Limbo—ruled by Madelyne Pryor—and must face demonic threats to survive. As Wanda battles the Vishanti’s decision, greater magical dangers emerge.

Speaking via Comic Book Movie, writer Steve Orlando said that when the title became available, the central question was “who hears the artifacts and cries for help?”—noting that Wanda was the natural answer.

The Sorcerer Supreme title has rotated across various wielders. Following Doctor Strange’s death, Clea Strange became the successor, then Doctor Doom during “Blood Hunt.” Now, Wanda Maximoff takes the spotlight. “Sorcerer Supreme #1” arrives December 31 and promises a major new direction for the character.

Before the conclusion of “One World Under Doom,” a first look leaked, giving readers a glimpse of Wanda in her new Sorcerer Supreme role. According to Bleeding Cool, the panel shows her holding the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation—the two signature relics belonging to the Sorcerer Supreme.

In the comic book panel, Wanda is seen exiting a door in Lotkill, New York, before saying: “Eye of Agamotto, Cloak of Levitation, great icons of the Sorcerer Supreme. Welcome back. My name is Wanda. Shall we start some trouble?”

This sets the stage for the launch of “Sorcerer Supreme #1,” which kicks off at the end of the year and stretches into 2026.

In live action, Elizabeth Olsen’s future as Scarlet Witch remains unconfirmed, but the comic storyline may offer clues. Even if the MCU doesn’t strictly follow the comics, these parallels could hint at what’s ahead, especially as Doctor Strange and Wanda’s paths remain unresolved.

What do you think about these shifts? Could they shape the live-action story? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!