Before Benedict Cumberbatch joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange, there were rumors that he'd been approached for several other superhero parts in both the MCU and DC Films Universe, and the actor has now confirmed that he was indeed offered a villainous role in a previous Marvel Studios movie.
While chatting to BBC Radio 1 about In The Multiverse of Madness, the Power of the Dog star revealed that he passed on the part of Dark Elf Malekith in Thor: The Dark World shortly after he played Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness, and while he felt "really flattered to be invited to the party", he didn't want to jump right into another bad guy role.
"I was bold enough to say, 'I'd rather hold out for something a bit more juicy,'" Cumberbatch recalled. "I really wasn't part of the conversation until it came back to me through [representatives] that they were interested."
Even then, Cumberbatch has his reservations after reading up on the Sorcerers Supreme's comic book history.
"I sort of read the comics and went, 'Yikes', because he's quite old school, a bit of a misogynist, very bound in the '70s," he said of the character. "I thought, 'It's a bit cornball. I'm not sure this is a great MCU [role]. I don't get it.' They went, 'No, it would be today. It would be very much a man of today. Yes, with some of those qualities, but like a man of today would have those qualities where he thinks he's the business,' because he has to have that arrogance."
Former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston would end up playing Malekith in the Thor sequel, and while he did what he could with the material, let's just say Cumberbatch was probably wise to pass on that one!
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now in theaters. You can check out our review here.