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6 Reasons Why Benedict Cumberbatch is Perfect to Play Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange will be in theatres soon. Honestly, I can’t wait to see it. Doctor Strange is one of those characters that’s not what you consider a traditional superhero. In the Marvel Universe, he’s the Sorcerer Supreme, the go-to guide to magic for many masked heroes like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and so forth. He protects mystical artefacts and guards the world against creatures like Dormamuu or evil mystics like Baron Mordo, the bad guy of this particular filmBenedict Cumberbatch plays Dr. Stephen Strange in the movie. Here’s why he’s perfect to play Doctor Strange: 

6. Varied Stage Actor

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He started as a stage actor in many productions. His acting accolades prior to being in TV shows and movies are varied and acclaimed. He’s got acting chops. His experience on the stage is a leg up from traditional movie actors. He has a Master of the Arts in Classical Acting. He played in theatre, television, films, voice-overs, radio, narration, he can sing, and he started his own production company.

5. Familiar with Buddhism

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According to his bio, he actually follows Buddhism. Understanding Buddhist principles does not seem like an important thing but when you are playing a character like Doctor Strange, I think it’s important. He meditates and has an affinity for mindfulness. Doctor Strange’s stories drawn from a variety of beliefs and magics from all across the world, after all.

4. Good Looks

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He looks good as Stephen Strange. The look of the actor as the comic book character is important in superhero movies because people want to see their beloved heroes come to life. As Doctor Strange is not one of the most notable Marvel characters because of the fact that he is not a traditional superhero, it is important that Cumberbatch as Strange makes the character come alive.

3. Fan Base

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Accordingly, Benedict Cumberbatch has a huge fan base from the time as a stage actor but also from hit series like the BBC’s Sherlock and movies like Star Trek: Into Darkness. He’s constantly ranked high in various magazine lists. His international popularity really started with Sherlock. Fans of his will definitely flock to see him in Doctor Strange when it premieres in the beginning of the November. 

2. Marvel Casting

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Marvel Studios have been doing very well in casting appropriate actors to play their characters.  Examples stem from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanov and so forth. I believe that Benedict Cumberbatch is a good choice and that Marvel decided this well.  I honestly can wait to see Doctor Strange meet up with the Avengers.  Maybe we’ll get a scene after the credits.

1. No Stranger to Playing an Arrogant Genius

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Doctor Strange starts as an arrogant, egotistical surgeon. He changes with his training in the mystic arts, after a car crash takes his hands’ stability away. Benedict Cumberbatch has a trend of playing tortured, but arrogant geniuses well. He’s the BBC Sherlock Holmes of modern-day London and he was also Captain James T. Kirk’s mortal enemy, Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness. He’s played Stephen Hawking in a TV film based on Hawking’s life. Other movies that he starred in includes:  Atonement (2007), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), War Horse (2011), 12 Years a Slave and voiced Smaug the Dragon and the Necromancer in the Hobbit movies.

Benedict Cumberbatch is perfect to play Doctor Strange. I think that Marvel’s casting was spot on with this one.  Not only is he a great actor both on stage and screen, but he’s a got a huge fan base that will follow him.   What do you think? How is he going to do as Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme? Sound off in the comments or send us your thoughts on Twitter!

About the author

Dara Berkey

Superhero nerd. History nerd. Favorite personal hero--Shazam/The Original Captain Marvel. Favorite female hero--Any of the Batgirls. Favorite male hero, other than Shazam--Any of the Robins.