The new issue of Empire arrives on Thursday, and as part of our absolutely gigantic 16-page autumn/winter preview, we headed into the Quantum Realm for an exclusive natter with Stephen Strange himself, Benedict Cumberbatch. The erstwhile Sherlock actor joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year in Doctor Strange, and he admitted to being stunned at this year’s Comic-Con footage reveal.
“Some bits made me think, ‘Wow. God. That’s what I’m part of,’” he told us, after watching the Inception-style city bending. “You have conceptual art that they show you, but you only really realise what you’re part of at the end of the process. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the effects while we were shooting, because a lot of them were real elements, whether it was sets that make a room miniscule, or the costume designs.”
Cumberbatch talked a little about what drew him to the mystical superhero project in the first place. “The lure as an actor is the script, the director, Kevin [Feige], and talking about how to make a character written in the ‘60s and ‘70s relevant now,” he said. “To make him slightly less arrogant. Arrogant, but also humorous.”
Cumberbatch also spoke glowingly of the Big Cape Moment, glimpsed in the trailer, where Strange whips his signature red costume around his shoulders in flamboyant fashion: “It was wonderful to see that moment get a cheer. He’s really earned it by then.”
For more from Marvel’s next adventure, be sure to bag yourself a copy of Empire, on sale from Thursday. You can subscribe to Empire here, including the option of an instant digital subscription{