Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the sequel to the much underrated 2016 Doctor Strange film. While the sequel was successful on a box office level, many fans including myself found Doctor Strange 2 to be underwhelming. I think the true culprit of the film was its marketing that promised us a mind bending rather than a simple MCU story. I mean for a film titled Multiverse of Madness, the film majorly takes place only in 3-4 universes. The other universes only popped up in the 39 second long sequence at the start of the film. The film had faced some creative differences with Scott Derrickson quitting the project as he had a much darker version in mind. Then Sam Raimi took over the reigns and gave us the film we have today.
With various changes in the sequel, one thing that remained constant was Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. Regardless, of the change in directors or the quality of the film. Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange remains one of the best casting decisions Marvel has ever made. Be it the journey of Stephen Strange in the first Doctor Strange film where he becomes the Sorcerer Supreme or be it him playing with the multiverse in the second Doctor Strange film to save a girl from Wanda. He played both the Stranges brilliantly. Along with the two solo films, Cumberbatch had numerous small appearances crossover team-up films where he was a pivotal character. Doctor Strange as character has become extremely important to the MCU. So, here is Cumberbatch telling us his role in Phase 5 & 6.
Doctor Strange Important in Phase 5 & 6?
Speaking with Prestige, MCU star Benedict Cumberbatch looked at where Doctor Strange will go in Marvel Studios’ Phase 5 and Phase 6, with a specific focus on more Variants of Strange. The Power of Dog actor said, “We turned what was a very small combat between the two into a sort of very bizarre and inventive battle in that moment. I really loved it. It was how the original was pitched to me a long while back when Scott Derrickson was still working with us: Strange would meet versions of himself. It was something I wanted to lean into. We could have gone even further, and maybe it will go into the future. Who knows what other versions we might need in the multiverse chapter of the MCU? But it was very enjoyable to play all the variants of myself.”
Cumberbatch continued with, “It’s strange, apart from some of the crew, I think I was the only person continuing the story and sort of safeguarding Strange, guiding his character into being and sometimes even educating people about another, which is a very weird responsibility because I still feel like I’ve got a lot more to discover. There’s so much lore in the comics to bring into the MCU and that’s just the beginning for his character. It’s very exciting for me to know there’s a lot further to go. But I feel a familiarity to him, definitely. There’d been a certain amount of continuity since the first … Ragnarok we did right on the table first, then the Avengers films and Spider-Man: No Way Home, of course. Which, you know, crudely for the character feels like a warm-up gig. It was a helpful refresher to say, I know this guy, I know what they’re doing. And I enjoy that. I also, you know, the minute I feel comfortable, I want to make him uncomfortable, make myself uncomfortable. I like that. As an actor, I want a new experience and take the audience with me as the character evolves. It was a bit like that in this film.”
Let me know what you think of this? Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently available for streaming on Disney+. MCU Phase 5 will begin with Antman and the Wasp: Quantomania that will release in theatres on 17th February 2023.
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