Benedict Cumberbatch Says Doctor Strange Introduces A Huge New Element To Marvel Cinematic Universe

Benedict Cumberbatch has started opening up about his upcoming role as Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange, telling the Wall Street Journal the film will introduce significant new wrinkles to the Marvel Universe.

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 [Derrickson] 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.

So what new element could Cumberbatch be referring to? The obvious answer is "MAGIC, duh," but he may be referring to something more specific that stems from Stephen Strange's mystic studies. Perhaps his travels in the Astral Plane will lead him to other realities, possibly introducing the concept of the multiverse to Marvel's cinematic universe.

Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016.