Benedict Cumberbatch who is attending The Red Sea Film Festival with We Live in Time produced by his company, is still rooting for his character in Doctor Strange. He describes films like Doctor Strange and what the Marvel Cinematic Universe offers as "grand gestures".
He believes that when the world is good enough it automatically speaks to us and our culture, while also being fun to perform. He described movies like Doctor Strange and other MCU blockbusters as "grand gestures." He further explained,
“When they are really good, they capture the zeitgeist, speak to us and our culture. They are so much fun to do.”
What kind of character is Doctor Strange in the MCU?
Doctor Strange is a complex character who often struggles with ego but is dedicated to protecting the multiverse. He is a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon whose life changes when a car accident ruins his hands.
He masters magic, time, and dimensions to depict a perfect blend of scientific and mystical elements. Over time he evolves from a self-centered character to a more selfless hero, balancing personal sacrifices and responsibility for the world.
Benedict expressed his feeling in an interview, that the "real fear" was not that the character was arrogant or misogynistic, but that the story needed to speak to the "idea of spirituality" at the moment. By understanding the spirituality of that role, one can achieve a character like that, he further explained.
Benedict Cumberbatch recalls his experience as Doctor Strange
Cumberbatch defines the superhero as a “complex man motivated by a need to control everything at any cost.” He looks forward to seeing where this trait of his takes him further in the story.
“I am interested in seeing where these costs take him,” he said. “There is a lot more to play and it’s very exciting.”
He describes his character as a unique ground in the MCU for the immense power the character harnesses through sheer will. It seems ordinary but it is a superpower.
About his experience as Doctor Strange, he recalls how overwhelming it was for him to perform amidst the talented crew, initially.
“The wealth of talent you are surrounded by is a little humbling and scary,” he continued.
The actor asserts that Marvel has a lot of tangible stuff to work around within the production. They usually shoot in a lot of locations amidst an immense amount of set building. But he added sarcastically that sometimes he also felt like he needed to get out of the set as all he could see was green and blue.
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The actor also discussed his upcoming movie, The Phoenician Scheme, with Wes Anderson and how the experience differs from The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. He said that Marvel "got it right many times before" and that he worked on it hard enough to hope that it would be successful.
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