The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

Benedict Cumberbatch Nearly Played a Marvel Villain Before Doctor Strange


Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness brings back Benedict Cumberbatch's titular hero to explore the depths of the Multiverse. Now that MCU's Phase 4 revolves around the Multiverse Saga, there's no one more suitable than Doctor Strange to take on the lead in conquering the multiversal threats and uncovering secrets from parallel universes. However, before playing the iconic Marvel sorcerer, Cumberbatch revealed that he was first asked to play a Marvel villain for the Thor franchise.

click to enlarge


In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that he was tapped by Marvel to play Thor: The Dark World villain, Malekith. A role that landed to Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston after Cumberbatch declined the role and waited for "something a bit more juicy.'"

"[The Doctor Strange role] happened as an idea muted after, funnily enough, another little dance I did for another character in the MCU, a very brief character. I was bold enough to say, 'I'm really flattered to be invited to the party, but I'd rather hold out for something a bit more juicy.'"

Cumberbatch added, "I really wasn't part of the conversation until it came back to me through [representatives] that they were interested. I sort of read the comics and went, 'Yikes!' Because he's quite old school, a bit of a misogynist, very bound in the '70s. I thought, 'It's a bit cornball. I'm not sure this is a great MCU [role]. I don't get it.' They went, 'No, it would be today. It would be very much a man of today. Yes, with some of those qualities, but like a man of today would have those qualities where he thinks he's the business,' because he has to have that arrogance."

Well, passing on the role of Malekith and choosing to play MCU's Doctor Strange must be Benedict Cumberbatch's wisest decision of his long-time acting career. After all, Kevin Feige recently said that Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange is now the anchor of the MCU after Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man had finally retired. And let's admit it, we can't really imagine another actor to play the fan-favorite MCU sorcerer than Benedict Cumberbatch.

Catch Benedict Cumberbatch's titular hero in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now showing in theaters worldwide.

Also Read: Mister Fantastic Actor John Krasinski's MCU Future Reportedly Yet to be Determined

For more articles like this, take a look at our Marvel and Geek Culture page.