Doctor Strange was one of the more self-contained movies set in the MCU. Excluding Thor's mid-credits scene cameo, the only major outside references in the 2016 superhero blockbuster was Wong mentioning the Avengers and later revealing the Eye of Agamotto was an Infinity Stone. So Stephen Strange was able to fight the forces of evil in his own space, but that will soon change. Following his minor appearance in Thor: Ragnarok, Strange will be teaming up with other MCU protagonists in Avengers: Infinity War, and the latest photo from that blockbuster's set shows the magic manipulator hanging out with some of his superhero buddies.
Avengers: Infinity War is nearing the end of its long shoot (although Avengers 4 will begin production immediately after), and during one of his breaks, Doctor Strange himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, took the opportunity to hang out with fellow costars Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Wong, a.k.a. Iron Man, Hulk and Wong. It looks like the four are having a rollicking good time, and judging by Cumberbatch and Wong's attire, it looks like they just got back from shooting one of the movie's more mystical scenes. No doubt the actors have already spent a lot of time with one another, but to see them in this lunch setting is nonetheless cool. And regarding Cumberbatch and Downey specifically, I hope they've shared goatee grooming advice and recounted their Sherlock Holmes experiences, whether it was at this lunch or another time.
While seeing these actors together is the main draw of this photo Robert Downey Jr. posted on social media, there's also an Avengers: Infinity War spoiler hiding in plain sight. If you look closely, there's a neatly-cut hole in Downey's shirt, and it's in the same spot where Tony Stark's arc reactor was once located. At the end of Iron Man 3, Tony underwent surgery to remove the shrapnel near his heart, and once that was completed, he no longer needed to keep an arc reactor in his chest. While Tony has still been using these reactors to power his armored suits, this photo indicates that Tony will once again have one attached to his body, though why this is necessary isn't clear yet.
Taking place a few months after Captain America: Civil War and several years after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War will follow the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy joining forces to battle Thanos, who wants to rewrite reality with the six Infinity Stones. Doctor Strange is not directly affiliated with either group right now, but his sorcerous skills may prove key to defeating the Mad Titan. And given Wong's own magical expertise and his knowledge of the Infinity Stones, he'll presumably play a important role in the proceedings, too.
Avengers: Infinity War will be released on May 4, 2018.
