The Wall Street Journal caught up with Benedict Cumberbatch while he was en route to the Palm Springs Festival awards over the weekend where he was on hand to represent The Imitation Game with his cast mates. We haven’t heard too much from the Sherlock actor about playing Doctor Strange since the announcement he was cast as Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme last month.
WSJ’s Speakeasy asked him if he considered tackling a high profile role that brings magic to the massive Marvel Cinematic machine a career risk.
“I don’t think it’s a risk because of Marvel. Marvel is a stable of bringing out ordinary comic characters and turning them into screen-like gods. It’s very different, it’s an Astral Plane. There’s a huge new element to this Marvel universe that’s going to be employed in building this story and this character. But you know, I’m really excited about it, about working with Scott whose imagination is endless, and all the boys and girls at Marvel who know what they’re doing. I’ve got a few things to get under my belt first. I’ve got to do that little stage production of “Hamlet” in the summer and the Christmas special of “Sherlock,” which we start shooting in about three days’ time – Whoops! Yeah, that’s there.”
When asked if filming could take him to the Himalayas, where Doctor Stephen Strange learns the mystic arts from the Ancient One, he was tight lipped when it came to revealing any plot details from the film.
“Ahh … you’ll have to wait and see. I’m not going to be eked out on any spoilers or reveals now. It’s quite a way off but I’m very excited about that spiritual dimension, obviously. It’s something that’s been a huge part of my life.”
Cumberbatch fessed up that he didn’t read the comic book adventures of Doctor Strange growing up.
“Growing up, no. I didn’t read many comics at all. Asterix a bit. I think that was it. There weren’t many comics in my household — [in a self-mocking voice] ‘I’m so deprived.’ We didn’t have Marvel so much. But you can bet your bottom dollar I’m reading them now, avidly.”
Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derrickson, is set for release on November 4, 2016.
SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal
Leave a Reply