Across the Multiverse
Marvel sequel a long, ‘Strange’ trip for Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Dr. Stephen Strange was last seen in Marvel’s megahit “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Now he’s back as the star of his long-awaited sequel, Friday’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
It’s been a troubled production, changing scripts and directors, shutting down for COVID. Sam Raimi, the “Evil Dead” horror meister who ushered in Marvel’s long-running hot streak with a trio of SpiderMan movies starring Tobey Maguire, was directing a film constantly in flux.
Asked during a virtual global press conference if it was true scenes were being filmed just two days ahead of newly written scripted pages, Raimi, 62, said, “The actors know their characters better than anybody. We made changes in the moment to riff on that idea and make something better. Our script was constantly changing. It was a very lively process because these movies are reacting, changing things and you have to be in the moment.
“The most important thing is having great actors. That didn’t change. These actors know their characters really well and it’s great to see that knowledge of your characters because in the Multiverse it’s ultimately a mirror — and they see changed aspects of themselves.”
For Cumberbatch, 45, this return presents an “evolving” surgeon-sorcerer.
Strange, he said, “is trying to be an adult, a guardian. He gets it very wrong before he gets it right. But he’s a very quick learner; physically and emotionally he’s maturing.
“In this film he’s quite a maverick, conflicted as a hero. He’s very omnipotent in this film. What he doesn’t yet realize is the cost of this magic and sorcery. This film is about finding his faults, flaws — and humanity as well as his strengths. This is more of a self-examination and holding up a mirror to him. We find out he is far better at being a collaborator and working with others. But he has to realize he can’t always be the one to hold the knife.”
As for the Multiverse, so prominent in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Cumberbatch explained, “This multiverse idea actually reflects our own real lives. As humans, we’re constantly playing multiple roles in our own lives. We have so much space in our subconscious to imagine ourselves in different versions. It’s a wonderful version of selftherapy.
“And,” he added, “it’s just fun to shift the mannerisms and abilities. We pushed it on different levels to go with what makes most sense of the story. It’s also a fine balance and I wanted to throw down many possibilities.”
Is this the defining role of a career that’s seen him play Sherlock Holmes, Stephen Hawking and Hamlet?
“I’m incredibly grateful he is such a complex character,” he answered. “I’m on a journey and this is a huge part of it.”