Benedict Cumberbatch on Why He Almost Turned Down DOCTOR STRANGE and Admits He's Nervous About The Sequel
When Marvel Studios approached Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange all those years ago, he almost turned to the role. It was a character that he initially wasn’t comfortable playing because of how the character was portrayed in the comics as being a “very dated, and sexist character.”
During an interview with Esquire, Cumberbatch was asked about taking on the role of Doctor Strange back in 2014. He explains that he didn't want to take on a role that had such negative cultural aspects from years past. But, Marvel did end up winning him over:
"I kind of had my doubts about it, from just going into the comics. I thought 'This is a very dated, sexist character.' And it's very tied up in that crossover, that kind of East meets West occultism movement of the Sixties and Seventies. And then they sort of sold me on the bigger picture, on 'Oh no, don't worry, this will be very much a character of his time. And, yes, he has attitude problems... but this is what we envisage.'"
The actor went on to say that Marvel "flirted with a couple of other options, then they came back and said 'We don't want anyone else to do it.’” In the end, Cumberbatch took the role and he’s been great in it and not only will we see him in Spider-Man: No Way Home, he has a the sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Magic, which is coming from director Sam Raimi. When it comes to this sequel, Cumberbatch is nervous about it. He said:
"I've got the Second Album Fear with this one, like anyone should, because the first one was such a riotous success and he's become a much-loved character."
But, he went on to say that regardless of being nervous, Marvel is going to deliver the magic:
"They're very good at exceeding expectations, when expectations are low. I think it's always harder to exceed them when they're high. I'm not saying they make them low. 'We're going to do Ant-Man!' It's just the way they make these things work. On paper you think 'Is that exciting?' They're starting to take more risks now, I think. I mean, their directors are very tied into the house style. But, you know, Taika Waititi, they were, like, 'Are we…? Is this going to work?' And it's fucking so funny, Thor: Ragnarok."
I have faith that Marvel and Raimi are going to make a great Doctor Strange sequel! Cumberbatch is joined by Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams, who will be back as Wanda Maximoff, Wong, Karl Mordo, and Christine Palmer, respectively. Xochitl Gomez has also joined the cast as America Chavez.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness lands in theaters on May 6, 2022.