Benedict Cumberbatch Cast As Doctor Strange!
After months and months of speculation about who was going to be the actor to portray the Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reports landed today that Sherlock leading man Benedict Cumberbatch is in final talks to play the part. I could not be happier about this. Not only is it good to finally know who Doctor Strange is going to be, but Cumberbatch is also my personal favorite actor. I've loved him in everything he's appeared in, even projects that weren't very good as a whole. I've been rooting for him to be Strange since the beginning, and it's awesome to hear that it's actually happening.
There are multiple reasons why I think this casting choice is utterly perfect. One of the reasons is just his physical appearance. He simply looks like Doctor Strange. This isn't usually something that is absolutely necessary when casting a comic book character in a live action film, but it certainly doesn't hurt. If you throw a nice mustache and goatee on Cumberbatch, there's no denying the resemblance.
Another reason is Cumberbatch's experience as not only an actor of villainous and arrogant characters, but also an actor capable of very dramatic, sweeping performances. Not only did he excellently portray the menacing Khan in last year's Star Trek Into Darkness (one of the better villain performances in recent years), but his work on the BBC series Sherlock (my favorite TV show as those who read my review for its season 3 would know) displays his ability to play a larger-than-life caricature of sorts in a way that's both believable and quite improbable. In addition, Cumberbatch has often appeared in theater productions, in which big, theatrical performances are necessary. This will make it look very natural as he's casting spells and parading around in robes and a cape. For many other actors, this would seem forced, even silly.
One last thing that just immediately comes to my mind as a perfect fit is his voice. It's pretty famous at this point because of his magnificent vocal work on The Hobbit films as Smaug the dragon. Not only can he be intimidating and even scary, but he can do it while keeping a playful tone to the dialogue. This is never more prominently on display than in the breathtaking scene of The Desolation of Smaug when Bilbo enters the Lonely Mountain in search for the Arkenstone and encounters the mighty dragon in his lair. The interplay in that scene is absolutely amazing, and that will translate very well to a character like Doctor Strange.
Now, there is one concern I have with Cumberbatch being cast. Marvel contracts are long. That's one of the reasons Joaquin Phoenix didn't want to play Doctor Strange. It's a big commitment to sign a 9-film contract. With Cumberbatch now signed on to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for many years and his film career just taking off in America, he may be too busy to consistently keep doing Sherlock. As I mentioned before, that's my favorite show, and I'd be pretty distraught if it ended anytime soon. It's his career to do what he wants with, but I personally would be very sad to see Sherlock go were it to come to that.
That's really the only negative with this. At least, the only one that I can think of. I love this guy, and I can't wait to see him join this universe. I'm sure it's going to be epic seeing him interact with the Avengers. After seeing the Age of Ultron trailer that released last week and now hearing about this, I can see that Marvel clearly knows what they're doing.
Another reason is Cumberbatch's experience as not only an actor of villainous and arrogant characters, but also an actor capable of very dramatic, sweeping performances. Not only did he excellently portray the menacing Khan in last year's Star Trek Into Darkness (one of the better villain performances in recent years), but his work on the BBC series Sherlock (my favorite TV show as those who read my review for its season 3 would know) displays his ability to play a larger-than-life caricature of sorts in a way that's both believable and quite improbable. In addition, Cumberbatch has often appeared in theater productions, in which big, theatrical performances are necessary. This will make it look very natural as he's casting spells and parading around in robes and a cape. For many other actors, this would seem forced, even silly.
Now, there is one concern I have with Cumberbatch being cast. Marvel contracts are long. That's one of the reasons Joaquin Phoenix didn't want to play Doctor Strange. It's a big commitment to sign a 9-film contract. With Cumberbatch now signed on to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for many years and his film career just taking off in America, he may be too busy to consistently keep doing Sherlock. As I mentioned before, that's my favorite show, and I'd be pretty distraught if it ended anytime soon. It's his career to do what he wants with, but I personally would be very sad to see Sherlock go were it to come to that.
That's really the only negative with this. At least, the only one that I can think of. I love this guy, and I can't wait to see him join this universe. I'm sure it's going to be epic seeing him interact with the Avengers. After seeing the Age of Ultron trailer that released last week and now hearing about this, I can see that Marvel clearly knows what they're doing.
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