Photo Credits: Marvel Studios
After a cameo in Doctor Strange 2, it seems Charlize Theron’s Clea will be returning to the MCU sooner than expected. The Academy Award-winning actress has not appeared in a single Marvel Studios film since 2022, joining a list of figures left in limbo. Recent rumors have suggested that she would return, likely in upcoming Marvel projects like Avengers: Doomsday.
When asked if Theron will reprise the role in the MCU, scooper DanielRPK gave a simple one-word response: “Yes.” They did not divulge any further details, but it should be noted that this is a rumor, and Marvel Studios has yet to announce Theron’s return to the MCU.
Yes— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) September 5, 2026
What did we see Charlize Theron’s Clea do in her one MCU scene?
In the post-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Theron introduces herself as Clea to the titular hero. She reveals that his actions have “caused an incursion,” and that both of them need to fix it. She opens a portal to what appears to be the Dark Dimension, where Dormammu resides. Strange shows that he has now begun to control his third eye, and the two leap into the dimension.
The MCU has yet to follow up on the scene, and previous rumors have suggested Avengers: Doomsday may do just that. Like Theron’s Clea, other major Marvel characters that were forgotten after being introduced include Harry Styles’ Starfox and Brett Goldstein’s Hercules. It remains to be seen if Marvel will revisit these characters any time soon.
Moreover, the studio has yet to officially confirm whether Benedict Cumberbatch will return as Doctor Strange in either another solo film or in its upcoming ensembles. However, he did seem to confirm in a January 2025 interview with Variety that he will be back in Secret Wars, teasing that his character is “quite central to where things might go.”
Avengers: Doomsday will follow the heroes uniting with the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to face off against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. The film will deal with multiple universes, while also tying in Marvel TV shows such as Loki.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.
