Among his impressive repertoire of roles that have showcased his vast talent, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Marvel gig as Doctor Strange is one that got the actor a lot of fame and recognition. After being introduced in 2016’s standalone film, the star went on to become part of the hugely successful Avengers ensemble in the MCU.
2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness received mixed reviews despite doing decently well at the box office. With the franchise undergoing a lot of development in terms of future narratives, The Imitation Game actor spoke about the possibility of his famous character’s presence in future films or in a 3rd installment featuring the superhero.
What Is Benedict Cumberbatch’s Future As Doctor Strange?
While Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America could be considered the faces of the Avengers, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange added another important and significant layer to the MCU. The actor who was integral to many narratives in the franchise, became synonymous with the Sorcerer Supreme through his performance.
The Oscar nominee featured in his second standalone film in the franchise in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which went on gross over $950 million at the box office globally (via The Numbers). While these statistics contributed to it being a success, the movie also received criticisms from various corners.
With the Marvel franchise and the MCU moving forward with multiple narratives in Phase 5 and key characters like Iron Man and Captain America having ended their reign, the question around the future of Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange seems to be on top of fans’ minds.
But the actor himself revealed in an interview with The Playlist’s Bingeworthy Podcast that he was no more aware of this information as the audience. Speaking about the possibility of a 3rd standalone movie and his involvement in other future MCU films, he confessed,
Who knows! We will see. We will find out. I’m not sure where he’s been and what he’s been up to and who with, but yeah, I know as little as you.
This ambiguous reply from the celebrity could have possibly shut the lid on a future for his Marvel character. Die-hard fans though, will be hoping that this is not the case.
Benedict Cumberbatch Focused On The Basics For His Marvel Role
Sometimes, greatness in acting comes from keeping things simple and never losing sight of the end goal whatever the circumstances are. Benedict Cumberbatch is a bonafide master of this skill. The British actor who is popularly known for his Marvel gig as Doctor Strange, put this ability into practice in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The 2022 film went through a lot of changes with regard to the writing, the plotline, and its release date. Originally planned after WandaVision and before Spider-Man: No Way Home, the project was indefinitely delayed and released only after Tom Holland’s movie.
While there was a lot at stake for the franchise in terms of managing budgets and the like, Cumberbatch admitted that he shut out all the external noise and refrained from involving himself in these aspects of production.
In a chat with The Playlist’s Bingeworthy Podcast, the star revealed that he believed his responsibility lay in preparing for the character to the best of his ability.
You’re part of a big machine, but you’re just trying to solve the problems on a set like any other job. And, yeah, it’s a massive sand pit to play in with very big and expensive, breakable toys. But you can only really do that if you’re loose and free and just doing your work as an actor. So, I kind of knuckled down and did that.
The actor also lauded the franchise for constantly reinventing itself in terms of storyline and characters, and continuing to be relatable to audiences worldwide.
