Benedict Cumberbatch dances around Doctor Strange questions at Comic Con

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch is only at San Diego Comic Con because he is plugging Dreamworks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR. He couldn’t possibly be there for anything like, say, a big Marvel announcement on Saturday? You can speculate all you want but no one knows for sure who will be playing DOCTOR STRANGE aside from Kevin Feige, Scott Derrickson, and the guy who actually has the role. Well, and everyone else involved with Marvel and Disney, but you know what I mean.

Fans went nuts today at SDCC during the PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR panel when Cumberbatch and John Malkovich were asked which superhero they would like to play. Apparently there was a significant silence when someone yelled out “Doctor Strange!” to which Malkovich answered he would play Lois Lane. Cumberbatch then jumped in with this comment.

Nurse Normal? Wait for it. Wait for it. Let the penny drop. … OK, that’s a joke about Doctor Strange. Batman, I suppose?”

Take it for what you will, but that is a very interesting joke by Cumberbatch. The man in the middle of the Khan-gate last year certainly knows about keeping movie secrets, but he could also just be playing with the audience. He also spoke with MTV and answered the casting rumor more directly.

“As far as I’m aware, even if that was the case, it couldn’t work out because I’m doing a little play called ‘Hamlet’ in London,” he said. “So I don’t think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”

Whatever the case, we know that Cumberbatch was on the shortlist for the role alongside Jared Leto, Tom Hardy, and at one point Jon Hamm. Whether his commitment to Hamlet would prevent him from making the movie or not, we will probably find out for certain during the big Marvel presentation this Saturday. Stay tuned as we will bring you the breaking news as it happens.