Why Benedict Cumberbatch Didn’t Appear as Doctor Strange in WandaVision?

WandaVision Updates: Benedict Cumberbatch reveals why he did not reprise Doctor Strange in WandaVision, explaining that he was too busy shooting the movie.

Doctor Strange did not appear in WandaVision, according to Benedict Cumberbatch. The future MCU Sorcerer Supreme was supposed to arrive in Westview to deal with the curse that was locking people inside.

This, and many other ideas about the season, did not come to reality. Instead, the only time he was mentioned in the Maximoff Anomaly was in an ambiguous way by Agatha Harkness during the final.

When WandaVision was unveiled at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, it was also revealed that the activities will be connected to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Scarlet Witch would next feature in the MCU in the Sam Raimi-directed sequel, as hinted in the Disney+ show’s post-credits sequence.

Nonetheless, seeing how these ventures would intertwine, it would have been much easier for Doctor Strange to feature on the small screen, even if only for a short cameo for greater continuity.

What Benedict Cumberbatch has to say about WandaVision?

Metro

In an interview with Jake’s Takes, Cumberbatch was asked if he was aware of the demand for him to star in WandaVision, and although he didn’t specifically address the query, he did explain why the cameo didn’t happen.

He mentioned that even if Marvel Studios wanted him to make a guest appearance on the program, he would be unable to do so because he was shooting The Mauritanian during the development for the finally completed Disney+ offering. Cumberbatch’s answer is below:

I apologize for disappointing you. It would have revealed [Elizabeth Olsen’s] relationship with [Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness], but, well, you know.

That’s what there is to it. We’re in the thick of it now, having been shooting since before Christmas, and it’s a lot of fun. And, yes, today is a nice day, not just because of this film, but also because our production company, in general, is doing well.

We only received five nominations for The Mauritanian, a film I’m very proud of. So, no, I wasn’t in WandaVision; I’d been very distracted, which is why I discussed The Mauritanian; I wanted to learn about [it].

In retrospect, Doctor Strange‘s absence from WandaVision is consistent with the show’s narrative principle of focusing on Wanda and her sadness. This is why, amid popular demand, Mephisto and other major X-Men cameos did not appear.

This could have been disappointing for those who had placed their bets on those possibilities, but the show was largely about Wanda’s adventure, and including unexpected surprises may have detracted from that.

In either case, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will fulfill the vow that the two strong magical wielders will finally share the projector.