Last
weekend at the Palm Springs Festival, The Wall Street Journal pressed actor
Benedict Cumberbatch into talking about his future role as Marvel's Doctor
Strange in director Scott Derrickson's upcoming adaptation of the character.
Cumberbatch
was first asked if he believed Doctor Strange is a risk, and what in the
character allured him to take on the role.
"I
don’t think it’s a risk because of Marvel. Marvel is a stable of bringing out
ordinary comic characters and turning them into screen-like gods. It’s very
different, it’s an Astral Plane. There’s a huge new element to this Marvel
universe that’s going to be employed in building this story and this character.
But you know, I’m really excited about it, about working with Scott whose
imagination is endless, and all the boys and girls at Marvel who know what
they’re doing. I’ve got a few things to get under my belt first. I’ve got to do
that little stage production of “Hamlet” in the summer and the Christmas
special of “Sherlock,” which we start shooting in about three days’ time –
Whoops! Yeah,
that’s there."
In
the source material, Dr. Stephen Strange travels to Tibet in search of a "cure"
for his damaged hands. There he meets The Ancient One, who teaches him
mysticism. Will Marvel's production office be relocated to the Hymalayas?
"Ahh
… you’ll have to wait and see," he teased. "I’m not going to be eked
out on any spoilers or reveals now. It’s quite a way off but I’m very excited
about that spiritual dimension, obviously. It’s something that’s been a huge
part of my life."
Cumberbatch
then explained that in order to get away from the "circus" that is
being in the spotlight he meditates.
"I
meditate a lot. That’s a huge tool in
trying to calm myself, get away from the crazy circus of it all, have a focused
mind as well as be a kinder, considerate person in the world. I took a lot of
stuff away from my experience in Darjeeling, West Bengal, right at the Nepali
border. It was Tibetan Buddhist monks in a converted Nepali house in India,
with a view of Bhutan. It was a profoundly formative experience at a very young
age. It’s something I’ve tried to keep in my life. It features already."
Finally,
the actor revealed that he didn't read any Doctor Strange comics growing up,
well any comics period.
"Growing
up, no. I
didn’t read many comics at all. Asterix a bit. I think that was it. There
weren’t many comics in my household — [in a self-mocking voice] 'I’m so
deprived.' We didn’t have Marvel so much. But you can bet your bottom dollar
I’m reading them now, avidly."
Source
- The Wall Street Journal
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