Stephen Strange (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Stephen Strange
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
First appearance	Doctor Strange (2016)
Based on	Doctor Strange by Steve Ditko     Stan Lee
Adapted by	Jon Spaihts Scott Derrickson C. Robert Cargill
Portrayed by	Benedict Cumberbatch
Voiced by	Benedict Cumberbatch (What If...?) Robin Atkin Downes (Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man)
In-universe information
Full name	Stephen Vincent Strange
Alias	Doctor Strange
Title	Doctor Guardian of the New York Sanctum Master of the Mystic Arts
Occupation	Neurosurgeon Master of the Mystic Arts
Affiliation	Masters of the Mystic Arts Parallel versions: Illuminati (Earth-838) Guardians of the Multiverse (What If...?)
Weapon	Cloak of Levitation Eye of Agamotto (Time Stone) Sling Ring Darkhold
Significant other	Christine Palmer (ex-girlfriend)
Home	Sanctum Sanctorum, New York City
Nationality	American

Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange is a superhero portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, commonly referred to by his academic title. Initially depicted as an intelligent and arrogant neurosurgeon, Strange experiences a career-ending car accident. In his search to repair his damaged hands, he discovers magic from Kamar-Taj. He becomes a Master of the Mystic Arts, using his newfound powers to protect the Earth from various threats.

Strange allies with the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy to combat Thanos, before allowing Thanos to initiate the Blip, himself among its victims, to ensure their ultimate victory five years later upon being restored to life. On his return, Strange remains the appointed Guardian of the New York Sanctum, but finds that Wong has become Sorcerer Supreme, a position Strange himself was in the process of inheriting from the Ancient One prior to being Blipped. Strange later faces several problems from the newly-established multiverse, including a rift between realities created by an interrupted attempt to erase everyone's knowledge of Peter Parker's secret identity as Spider-Man which had been caused by Mysterio; and a Darkhold-corrupted Wanda Maximoff, whom he must stop from acquiring America Chavez's ability to traverse the multiverse for her own goals.

The character is one of the central figures of the MCU, having appeared in six films as of 2024^[update]. Cumberbatch has received acclaim for his performance as Strange and was nominated for several awards—including Critics' Choice Award nominations in 2016 and 2023. Alternate versions of Strange from the multiverse appear in the animated series What If...? (2021, 2023) and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). A notable version in What If...? is Doctor Strange Supreme, who accidentally destroys his universe in his efforts to resurrect his version of Christine Palmer, and later co-founds the Guardians of the Multiverse with the Watcher to defeat an alternate version of Ultron. Cumberbatch is set to return as the character in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).