Benedict Cumberbatch: Doctor Strange will bring 'huge new element' to Marvel universe

The Sherlock star is 'really excited' to play the lead in the 2016 movie

Jess Denham
Monday 05 January 2015 18:38 GMT
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Benedict Cumberbatch attends a special screening of his latest film The Imitation Game
Benedict Cumberbatch attends a special screening of his latest film The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch has promised that his turn as Doctor Strange will bring a “huge new element” to Marvel’s comic book universe.

The Sherlock star has been cast in the lead as the neurosurgeon whose hands are ruined in a car crash before he becomes Sorcerer Supreme and starts protecting the world from supernatural threats.

But while Doctor Strange is among the lesser-known comic book characters, Cumberbatch is confident that the film studio can turn him into a “god”.

“I don’t think it’s a risk because of Marvel,” the Golden Globe nominee told The Wall Street Journal. “Marvel is a stable of bringing out ordinary comic characters and turning them into screen-like gods.”

Cinema-goers have plenty to look forward to too, it would seem. “There’s a huge new element to this Marvel universe that’s going to be employed in building this story and this character,” Cumberbatch added.

“I’m really excited about it, about working with [director Scott Derrickson] whose imagination is endless and all the boys and girls at Marvel who know what they’re doing.”

Shooting on Doctor Strange is scheduled to begin once Cumberbatch finishes his Barbican stage run as Hamlet and filming wraps on the Sherlock Christmas Special.

Bill Nighy, Morgan Freeman and Ken Watanabe are all rumoured as possible actors for the role of the Ancient One.

Doctor Strange will reach cinemas on 4 November 2016.

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