Doctor Strange will go on hiatus within the upcoming Marvel sequel, “Avengers: Doomsday,” in accordance with spoiler- and secret-happy Benedict Cumberbatch.
“Is this a spoiler?” requested the actor Variety in a latest interview. “Suited!”
Speaking of nothing to do, the Oscar-nominated star of “The Imitation Game” and “The Power of the Dog” additionally helped clarify a “good WTF,” due to Marvel and Robert Downey Jr’s shock announcement . at Comic-Con final summer season that Downey would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as somebody apart from Iron Man.
Cumberbatch found Downey’s Marvel homecoming whereas watching dwell protection of the 2024 Comic-Con presentation. Then, in accordance with Variety, he instantly picked up his cellphone and texted Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.
“I texted: ‘What the f***?’ after which rapidly added, “Well, what the–” I imply, effectively, what-the–” the 48-year-old star informed the outlet.
For Cumberbatch, Downey’s return is a pleasant WTF that may preserve issues gentle on set, regardless of the strain of constructing multimillion-dollar films, he stated. The British actor, whose dad and mom had been additionally actors, informed Variety that Downey would name him “Mr. Shakespeare” and jokes that they each play literary detective Sherlock Holmes onscreen. (Unfortunately, a meta-line about their previous roles weren’t included within the movie, he stated.)
The “Sherlock” and “Star Trek Into Darkness” star, who entered the MCU with 2016’s “Doctor Strange,” stated he noticed Downey play billionaire playboy Tony Stark and heard his banter with Spider-Man Tom Holland in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” helped him take a extra relaxed method to his character, which he believes he’s played too rigidly within the first appearances.
“I discovered so much by seeing how comfy and improvisatory they’re,” Cumberbatch stated. “It’s tough as a result of you’ve got this large equipment round you, nevertheless it’s so essential.”
Cumberbatch, alongside along with his manufacturing firm SunnyMarch, has leaned barely towards a “European kind of world cinema” along with his newest initiatives, together with “The Thing with Feathers,” which premiered at this week’s Sundance Film Festival, and Netflix’s “Eric” and “Roses.” .” Although the Marvel movies take time away from his signature initiatives, Cumberbatch describes the franchise – with its 34 movies and counting – as “the fashionable myths of our instances” and appreciates the way in which the epic movies “transport” audiences into totally different worlds.
“Yes, it is large and unwieldy, however Marvel is so dedicated to getting it proper,” Cumberbatch stated. “Even once we make certainly one of these Avengers films and it will get exponentially larger, we’re nonetheless simply youngsters enjoying within the sandpit. We’re nonetheless simply making shit up and having enjoyable.
Oscar winner Downey launched the MCU blockbuster when he performed the superhero within the 2008 comedian ebook adaptation “Iron Man.” He ended his run because the lead Avenger when his character sacrificed himself to avoid wasting the universe in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Downey will play the position of the villainous Victor von Doom, aka “Doctor Doom,” a personality who had originates within the Marvel comics “The Fantastic Four”. The new “Doomsday” villain is believed to be a variant of Stark, in accordance with studies.
Alas, with all of the groundwork to be laid, a reboot of “Fantastic Four” characters to be launched this summer season, and the return of Chris Evans to the MCU, “Doomsday” is getting awfully crowded. So, apparently, there’s Cumberbatch neurosurgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme he will not return for the May 2026 movie. Though “momentarily horrified by his candor” relating to that plot level, Cumberbatch continued to spill the beans on the studio’s ultra-secret plans for the following section of Marvel movies.
The actor defined that so much needed to change when Jonathan Majors was fired final yr after being convicted of assault. Majors, who performed the enigmatic villain Kang the Conqueror, was set to be the principle antagonist within the upcoming episodes, however the studio needed to change route after letting him go.
Enter: Downey’s large dangerous Doctor Doom. With this reshuffle, Cumberbatch, whose character final appeared in 2022’s “Doctor Strange within the Multiverse of Madness,” stated he will not be in “Doomsday” as a result of his character “would not align with this a part of the historical past”.
Again acknowledging that he most likely should not say this, Cumberbatch revealed that his Doctor Strange is “largely” the “Doomsday” sequel “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which is scheduled for theatrical launch in 2027. Both movie will probably be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who co-directed the climactic installments “Infinity War” and “Endgame.”
“(Doctor Strange is) fairly central to how issues might go,” Cumberbatch stated, suggesting the character will seem in a 3rd standalone movie.
He additionally praised the Disney-owned studio for being collaborative, saying he was open to discussing the place Doctor Strange goes subsequent, who wish to write and direct the upcoming movie, and what a part of the character’s comedic lore he wish to discover. “in order that Strange can proceed to evolve.”
“It’s a really fascinating character to play. He’s a fancy, contradictory, troubled human being with extraordinary talents, so there are highly effective issues to mess with,” Cumberbatch stated.
