Benedict Cumberbatch: Compared Doctor Strange to Sherlock Holmes

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, compares his role in the MCU to his prior role as Sherlock Holmes.

Benedict Cumberbatch compares his position as Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to another of his earlier avatars, Sherlock Holmes. Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Cumberbatch will reprise his role as Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts.

The film’s plot has remained a well-guarded secret thus long, leading to much conjecture about who or what might appear within its multiverse. Elizabeth Olsen will reprise her role as Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, opposite Cumberbatch, with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, and Rachel McAdams also slated to participate.

Cumberbatch had a number of notable appearances prior to joining the MCU, including directing a modern-day retelling of Sherlock Holmes’ famed detective stories alongside fellow MCU co-star Martin Freeman, who played John Watson.

Benedict Cumberbatch: Compared Doctor Strange to Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock lasted four seasons and is widely regarded as one of Cumberbatch’s career-defining roles. The actor has already spoken fondly of his time as Sherlock Holmes, emphasizing the show’s enormous success and how he never expected it to be such a phenomenon. Cumberbatch has now drawn parallels between these two key characters, emphasizing their similarities and addressing what he believes unites them.

In a recent interview with The Treatment podcast to promote his new film The Power of the Dog and talk about the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Cumberbatch highlighted how Stephen Strange, like Sherlock Holmes, sees “humans as a problem to be solved.”

The celebrity went on to add that both Strange and Holmes lack a “Bedside demeanor” and “touch,” and that their major focus is always on “fixing the situation,” or, in Strange’s case, “difficulty of operation.” Cumberbatch went on to explain how this relates to Strange’s tragic romance with Christine Palmer (McAdams) and the sorrow of parting.

Cumberbatch has talked extensively about his time as Doctor Strange in recent promotional appearances, previously comparing the Sorcerer to Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. Both of these characters, according to the actor, frequently let their egos get the best of them, which is a quality that Holmes shares.

Many have speculated that the MCU has been preparing for Doctor Strange to take up the Iron Man mantle following his sad death in Avengers: Endgame, with Marvel President Kevin Feige, previously referring to Doctor Strange as the “anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

There are a number of similarities between Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange, so it’s intriguing to hear Cumberbatch acknowledges these echoes of his prior character in his portrayal. Benedict Cumberbatch has been especially tight-lipped about any future plans to reprise his much-loved role as Sherlock Holmes, though he previously stated that he would “never say never” in the role. In the meantime, fans can expect to see Cumberbatch reprise his role as Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will be released on May 6.