At this point, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is very much the glue that holds the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and the fabric of the multiverse) together. He’s central to the Multiverse Saga and all the otherworldly, crazy big plotlines that come with it. But with these all-encompassing plotlines, Cumberbatch has admitted that it can be “tough” to bring raw emotion to the movies.
Cumberbatch made his MCU debut in 2016, and he’s continued to develop Doctor Strange to be a much-needed pillar of the MCU after the exit of previous stars Chris Evans (Captain America) and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man). In fact, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has previously hailed Cumberbatch as the “anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe” and “the only actor capable of guiding us through the madness of the Multiverse.”
Speaking with The Talks, Cumberbatch explained how he prepares to step into Doctor Stephen Strange’s shoes. “It’s not some sort of acting gym where you’re stripping off layers of self to reveal a layer of truth all the time,” he said. “You are working to do some of that but in the heartbeat of making a massive film like ‘The Avengers,’ for example, it can be tough getting that one moment of emotion absolutely nailed in five minutes because that’s all the time they have because of the other, bigger things around it.”
He came to terms with the idea that his latest movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, was as much about developing the wider MCU as it was about developing his character:
"In this instance, it’s not a massive development of the character, it’s about how to service the story at the same time as balancing the integrity of a now much-loved part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe."
Thankfully, he got to learn from the very best by studying his predecessors. “I learn by watching other people. It was wonderful to watch Robert . It is wonderful to watch him, and to watch people who really know what they are playing inside out.”
Benedict Cumberbatch compares Marvel to Sherlock.
Of course, besides his beloved MCU role, Cumberbatch is also well known for his iconic portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC’s Sherlock. The show only lasted for 15 episodes across 4 seasons (which by modern standards is pitiful), but it still managed to become one of the most successful shows in the BBC’s history.
Interestingly, Cumberbatch doesn’t see Sherlock as a smaller project than the numerous Marvel movies he’s been involved in: “Well, as for this being a bigger pond than ‘Sherlock’…I don’t think it is. I think ‘Sherlock’ for me has had a bigger reach than something like ‘Doctor Strange’ because it’s television; it’s more democratic, more people have seen it. The reach that program has had is extraordinary.”
To be fair, he’s got a point.
Cumberbatch may have a hard time mustering up emotions for Marvel, but I’m sure everyone will shed a tear during Marvel Studios’ latest movie, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be intrinsically emotional without T’Challa actor Chadwick Boseman. It premieres on November 11.
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