Benedict Cumberbatch recently spoke out about the weaknesses that his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character, Doctor Strange, still has. Doctor Strange debuted in the MCU back in 2016, and despite some spectacular character flaws, he quickly grew and became an important part of the superhero landscape. But despite the change from being a cutting edge neurosurgeon to a magic wielding hero, Strange still has room to grow.
The actor behind the character, Cumberbatch, also reinforced this idea when he sat down to speak with the Japanese-based news site Doctor Strange's character arc and others in the MCU. But once Strange progresses further, he is almost certain to be one of the most formidable characters in the entire MCU.
Doctor Strange Is One Of The MCU's Most Powerful Figures
Strange Is A Master Of The Mystic Arts
The Sorcerer Supreme is not a title that is thrown around with little or no thought, and by the end of his debut film, Strange learned to control the Time Stone, conquer Dormammu, and assume the prestigious position as the new leader of the mystical arts. This evidences incredible growth and potential, but it also appears to only scratch the surface of what he is capable of. In the comics, Strange holds on to the title for considerably longer, and he spends decades honing his abilities, becoming an incredible hero and wizard.
Should Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch appear in Doctor Strange 3?
Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch was the main villain of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While it has yet to be confirmed, it is likely that Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange will at least conclude his Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogy, if not extend the franchise beyond it. Doctor Strange 3 could be the perfect movie to solidify the Scarlet Witch's redemption arc. Wanda Maximoff atoning for her sins while helping Doctor Strange after having fought him in the character's second film would be a great way to conclude the Scarlet Witch's current MCU story after her likely return for the next two Avengers movies.
However, the MCU saw Strange turn into dust just two years after he arrived in the MCU. Following this, Wong became the Sorcerer Supreme, and it wasn't until five years later that Strange returned. Strange was gone for longer than had been a student of the mystic arts, and Wong has served for a few years more than Strange himself. However, the animated What If...? series does shed some light on what a powered up Strange could be capable of after refining his abilities for a longer stretch of time.
Why Doctor Strange's MCU Story Is More Like Scarlet Witch's Than We Realized
Their Heroes' Journeys Have A Lot In Common
At this point, Strange is at a fork in the road. There is a lot of potential for him to step up and become one of the greatest heroes the world has ever known, but there are also forces pulling him to a darker side. As seen in both Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Strange is struggling after coming back from the blip. He's struggling to fit into a new role as a cog in the team at the Sanctum Sanctorum, and he's struggling in of his place as a superhero. All of this considered, Cumberbatch beautifully sums up the single greatest weakness that Strange possesses, his arrogance:
"As a person, I think he's growing. I think he's still learning how to act for others, how to work in a team, how to trust others. He's a very complex and interesting character. He started out as a very arrogant character, and he was doing godly things as a genius neurosurgeon, and now he's doing godly things as a magician. He's growing, but he still has a lot of ongoing psychological issues that he's trying to work through."
Strange has always been praised, hailed as a genius, a hero, and someone special. He was a leading neurosurgeon who lost the use of his hands due to his arrogance and negligence, and he set off on a journey of discovery and healing. While he found some, he lost his new mentor quickly, and was thrust into yet another position of power where he was praised. Now, returning from the dust, Strange feels pushed aside and useless, and until he learns to be at peace with himself, and work with a team, Doctor Strange will never reach his full potential in the MCU.
Doctor Strange
- Created by
- Kevin Feige, Scott Derrickson
- First Film
- Doctor Strange
- Latest Film
- Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
- Cast
- Tilda Swinton
- Movie(s)
- Doctor Strange, Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
- Character(s)
- Doctor Strange, Karl Mordo, Christine Palmer, Wong, The Ancient One
The Doctor Strange franchise is a significant part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), focusing on the journey of Stephen Strange, a former neurosurgeon who becomes the Sorcerer Supreme after a life-changing accident. The franchise explores themes of mysticism, alternate dimensions, and the multiverse, with Doctor Strange playing a crucial role in both standalone films and crossover events within the MCU.
