Highlights
- Doctor Strange actor Mads Mikkelsen may be returning to the MCU in a new and potentially bigger role.
- The rumor suggests that Mikkelsen is in talks with Disney and Marvel Studios for an unknown role, possibly Doctor Doom.
- If true, Mikkelsen's casting as Doctor Doom could lead to a new direction for The Avengers and shake things up in the MCU.
Doctor Strange actor Mads Mikkelsen is reportedly in talks to return to the MCU in a brand-new, potentially much more considerable role.
Mikkelsen first appeared in the MCU's Doctor Strange as the sorcerer and former Master of the Mystic Arts member, Kaecilius. The Danish actor also appeared briefly in the Loki season 1 finale, although only in archival audio form. Since then, audiences have wondered how or if Mikkelsen would make his return to the MCU.
A new rumor suggests he will return, but perhaps not as Kaecilius. According to trusted internet scooper Daniel Richtman, Mikkelsen is in talks with Disney and Marvel Studios to join the MCU in a currently unknown role. The rumor has drummed up the buzz surrounding Mikkelsen's mysterious new role, and many think it could be the new big bad, Doctor Doom. This theory is supported by the fact that Marvel Studios recently confirmed they dropped Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror as the central villain in the upcoming Avengers film due to Majors' guilty verdict and officially changed the title back to Avengers 5. It's also been noted that Mikkelsen previously auditioned to play Victor von Doom in 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four. However, the part ultimately went to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes actor Toby Kebbell.
The rumor certainly lines up with this popular fan casting, and if it turns out to be true, it will answer a massive question about the future of the MCU. Marvel Studios had a record-low year at the box office due to flops like The Marvels, and not a single MCU film grossed over $1 billion in 2023. In the wake of their struggles, the studio seems to have slowed down a bit on rapid-fire releases in favor of focusing on quality films in fan-favorite franchises like Deadpool and Spider-Man. However, in addition to affecting the upcoming Fantastic Four film, Mikkelsen's casting as Doctor Doom may mean an entirely new direction for Marvel's arguably most important IP, The Avengers.
A few outliers are disappointed by the rumored casting, stating their wishes for Mikkelsen to reprise his original role as Kaecilius in a new Doctor Stange movie. Eager fan theories aside, fans do not currently know which mysterious role Richtman's intel was referring to, but whatever it is, it's likely to shake things up.
Avengers 5 is set to release on May 1, 2026.
The Avengers
The Avengers is a group of comic book characters consisting of some of the world's most iconic superheroes, such as The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.The Avengers have been a powerful force in Hollywood for over a decade, collectively and individually. The group has also starred in video games, such as LEGO Marvel’s Avengers and Marvel's Avengers by Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix.
Source: Daniel Richtman/Patreon
