TV - Movies
Why Benedict
Cumberbatch
Turned Down The
First MCU Role He
Was Offered
By PAULI POISUO
Benedict Cumberbatch is such a natural fit in the role of Doctor Steven Strange that you may be hard-pressed to imagine anyone else playing the powerful sorcerer. Yet, the MCU originally offered him a different role, here’s why he turned down the opportunity.
Instead of Christopher Eccleston, it could have been Benedict Cumberbatch playing Malekith the Accursed, the villain of "Thor: The Dark World." However, he decided to turn down the offer for two different, but equally compelling reasons.
One of them, the actor revealed, was a secret hope that he'd eventually score a more hefty MCU role. "I was bold enough to say, 'I'm really flattered to be invited to the party, but I'd rather hold out for something a bit more juicy'," he said explaining his strategy.
The other part of Cumberbatch's decision was that he was concerned about playing too many villains in a row, and as it happens, these dual motives to say no to Malekith ended up helping him in two distinct ways. Not only did he eventually score the ongoing role of Doctor Strange — but he also dodged the "Thor" sequel, which is widely considered the worst movie in the MCU.