Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange https://t.co/uYosYBiOo7 pic.twitter.com/bfvCkTi8gF
— ThePlaylist (@ThePlaylist) November 5, 2015
I’m not really sure if I’m excited about Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, but here we go. Social media users in Nepal have been tweeting and Instagramming the first photos of Benedict-as-Strange all week. The photo above is the clearest look we have of Benedict Strange, which is such a perfect name for him, right? It’s like a character name thought up by Agatha Christie.
Anyway, Benedict’s Doctor Strange beard is made of lies. MERKIN OF LIES. He was clean shaven earlier this week as he wrapped up his Hamlet run. I thought that Benedict would jump immediately into the Doctor Strange production, which is exactly what happened. Except I thought they would begin the production in England, but nope. They’re apparently going to be in Nepal filming some scenes which will appear early in the movie, then the production moves back to England. For these scenes, Benedict Strange’s beard is hiding his inner magical powers. I guess. Tilda Swinton has apparently been around Nepal too, because she’s playing The Ancient One. You can see more photos here.
Doctor Strange actually has a great cast, possibly the most interesting cast of any Marvel film. In addition to Benedict and Tilda, they’ve got Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mads Mikkelsen. Even if there wasn’t a built-in comic book audience, I would want to see this on the strength of the ensemble alone.
One last thing – there was a gossip item in the Daily Mail that Benedict will be returning to England next week to make the trip to Buckingham Palace. You see, although it was announced over the summer that Benedict would be given a CBE (Commander of the British Empire), he has not yet been presented with the medal (is it a medal?). The Queen rarely does these events anymore, so it’s more than likely that Prince William might be doing Benedict’s investiture thing, if it indeed goes down next Tuesday. Incidentally, William was the one to do the investiture of a CBE to Chiwetel Ejiofor last week – go here to see those photos.
Photos courtesy of Twitter, WENN, Fame/Flynet.
Looks very Batman Begins…which is probably deliberate. Amazing cast!
I thought so too. He’s giving me the Christian Bale vibes. I’m into this movie
Yup, he’s Bale as f*ck in the header photo.
“Bale as f*ck” is my new favorite phrase, thank you. 😉
@Mia4s and @Shambles: imma gonna use that phrase so bad! 🙂 brilliant!
Mia and DS, Yuuuuus! Especially when you’re feeling very, irrationally angry.
“I am BALE as F*CK right now!”
“Bale as f**k is the phrase of the week.
Yup, and I love that expression!
C’mon @Shambles, it’s Friday! Everything will be fine; don’t stress out 🙂
I’m so honored that “Bale as F*ck” as received such widespread acclaim. It happened, it really happened.
*HathaCries*
And DS, thanks for the good vibes! I’m not actually Bale as f*ck right now, just demonstrating the proper context in which the phrase should be used.
Yas! Very Bale and thus infinitely more doable.
I’m putting “Bale as F*ck” into the Celebitchy Dictionary of Expressions. Just before “Big-Sized Olsen”, “Chunk-Butt” and “Drunk Uncle Cumby”.
Same idea
Great cast; can’t wait to see this movie. He hasn’t killed my hots for him. Fake beard looks pretty natural in this pic at least and doesn’t make his profile look too much like a banana like I thought it might. A hot, hot banana. 😉
I thought that *was* Bale.
Great cast. Will definitely watch it. But I think he has finally managed to kill the hots I used to have for him – it was a year long process, but we are finally there. Luckily he is a talented actor:-) so if his movies sound appealing I will always see them, but yep, IMHO he has lost it. Whatever “it” is.
Yes – he has def lost his ‘it’ factor. I think it was his desperation for an Oscar/Hollywood A List status that did it for me. He’s become another Brit actor trying to make it big in Hollywood.
I don’t know the Dr Strange story so i may wait until this comes out on DVD.
Me, three. I saw him in Hamlet because I had purchased the ticket 1 1/2 years ago and I enjoy a good show as anyone else. He is a decent actor, not the best, not the worst. I, too, was put off by his Oscar thirst and even though I enjoy seeing him in things, I really wouldn’t cross the street to say hi to him.
I’m still irritated at Marvel’s casting for this one. The Ancient One is supposed to be a PoC and Tilda Swinton has been cast?
She is like me, as pale as the driven snow. But marvel cast Nick Fury as a POC, so it all works out right?
Right? ! What more do you want from us? That one casting choice should tide us over for a few more years. /s
You throw poc a few crumbs and everything is even Steven now? Erm no.
I’ve never read the comics so I don’t know who or what The Ancient One is, but based on the name alone Tilda is the first name that pops to my mind too. Because she’s so ethereal in a good way. I don’t think I know any other actor/actress, of any race, as timeless as her.
What is a POC?
Person of color ?
POC = Person of Color.
Is person of color considered a politically correct expression? It sounds terrible to me, but I’m white and live in an all-white country so it’s hard to have perspective on this.
Person of color – to me – sounds like “everybody not white” like there’s some important distinction between Caucasian and everybody else. I guess just naming the colors sounds better to me because that makes each race relevant, instead of white vs. non-white*, but you can’t really eliminate the history and the misuse of the words.
* As weird as it sounds, the term POC reminds me of Freud and his male/female distinction, maybe that’s why I hate it so much. Boys have penises and women lack penises and envy them and all the trauma starts there. I have the same problem with white/POC.
HAHAHAHAHA.
But seriously, I’m kind of looking forward to this.
Mads Mikkelsen was supposed to be the villain on “Thor 2”, so Marvel was really looking for him. It’s nice to see good “serious” actors doing this kind of popcorn movies.
How is that nice? Popcorn films should have popcorns actors. Serious actors should be otherwise employed. But money is the great motivator lol.
Because it helps to bring an extra depth to what would otherwise be just popcorn.
Not a medal; an order of chivalry. You can kinda look at an order of chivalry like an exclusive club with gradations of membership (in this case, member > officer > commander > knight/dame).
You *get* a medal. But the medal signifies your membership of the club; it’s not the honour in and of itself.
Is there a set of rules as to when and if you can wear the medal? Or is it something you keep in a box or in a frame?
Honestly? No idea! Presumably, whenever you like! It’s just a badge to say you’re in the club, you know? I suppose people would keep it in a box at home unless they were subsequently invited to something else royal-fied, like a Buck House garden party, in which case they’d wear it. You do get to put MBE, OBE, CBE etc as letters after your name if you want, just as you can put letters after your name if you get a university degree. Most people don’t though: it’s regarded as pretentious.
Thanks, Sixer!
Didn’t David Beckham catch all sorts of upper-class side-eye for wearing his medal to the royal wedding? That in and of itself was a faux pas, but then he actually pinned it to the wrong side of his coat. What a peasant!
As a savagely uncultured American, my understanding is there are only two places it should be pinned when worn in public. You either surgically implant it into the middle of your forehead so you can be sure the riff-raff will notice it while you drone on at cocktail parties…or you pin it to your bum, so those that are actually impressed you were given an award of this type only have to smooch that one spot, thus saving time in the receiving line.
I wouldn’t accept an honour even if I ever did anything to be recognised with one, but Dara, you’ve tempted me. If I could stick it on my backside, well…
!!
Dara’s got the Friday Funnies, y’all!! Take away the daily Hiddles posts and looky what happens…
I will always have more respect for people who refuse these honours. Can’t help but find them outdated.
I confess that as a huge comic book geek, I was highly disappointed with Cumberbatch’s casting as Dr. Strange. But now that Mads and Chiwetel are involved, I’m there. Still not certain Bendy can do an American accent though!
Bendy can’t do accents – so unless they change the character to British it will be painful to the ears.
Oh no. Is Dr. Strange American? I’m not familiar with Strange, but I assumed he was English. Oh geez. ::fret:: I think we’ve all (mostly?) agreed Bendy can’t do an American accent.
And I am HERE for Mads!
I’m there for Mads too. Hannigram forever!
Isn’t Dr. Strange from New Jersey? This will be painful. Please, Marvel powers that be, go for generic American with the knowledge that he probably won’t manage that very well.
Nope, born in Philly, raised in nebraska. BC has a speech coach for the role so it’ll be interesting to see what his Midwestern accent sounds like.
I hope they make Dr Strange British. Or American but with a British accent. Who cares anyway?
there’s zero reason to make him have a US accent tbh, he’s got family in the Uk in the original canon & i don’t know who imagines that character with a midwest accent. doesn’t fit at all.
the speech coach is British so i’m guessing just minor speech changes
Maybe they will tell him to just do a generic American accent, no need to make it regional.
Well, the funny thing they got practically all British cast , right? And they are all going to have to do an American accent? There are very few actors who are actually consistently good at accents.
May be they should’ve come up with some British back story.
It is a weird situation, like in Crimson Peak , Chastain had to do a British accent and Hannum had to do an American accent. And reportedly both were bad.
Jessica’s accent wasn’t bad at all IMO, especially for an early 20th century period piece. I’m not saying it was absolutely regionally accurate. I’m not an expert, but unless you’re trying to compare it to Downton Abby or something, it was totally fine. There was nothing noticeably “bad” or awkward about it that was distracting, unlike Hunnam’s accent witch is distinctively unfamiliar even as a contemporary accent.
He used his SOA accent – that’s set in modern day California.)
Tilda and Chiwetel will be the only reasons I see this movie, if I actually do see it. Speaking of accents, Chiwetel and Hugh Laurie are about the only two Brits I’ve heard do a flawlessly convincing American accent. They are so spot on, I could have sworn they were born here.
Christian Bale does a spot on crackhead from Lowell, MA accent.
Haven’t heard Chiwetel’s American accent, but your absolutely right about Hugh Laurie. It was years before I realized Dr House was a Brit.
I loved Bale in The Fighter and I totally forgot he was Welsh, his accent was so good.
He had me believing he was a crackhead from Lowell. And I’ve met quite a few crackheads from Lowell.
He looks like Christian Bale in Batman Begins.
I think he looks like Thomas Gibson in these pics. It startled me.
whoa…yes, he does!
SO true. Spot on.
I’d tap that
What? chiwetel already had an OBE for quite a few years and made the step up to CBE. Benedict jumped straight to CBE??
This was discussed to death when it was announced – its a consolation prize for not getting the Oscar. The actual Oscar winner got an OBE (the lesser award) and I personally think he should have got the OBE instead of the CBE.
The citation for the award actually clarifies this quite a bit. Redmayne got a OBE for “Services to Drama” — in other words, he got it solely for getting his Oscar. Cumberbatch’s CBE citation reads “For services to the Performing Arts and to Charity.” Performing Arts is wider than just Drama: Cumberbatch being recognized not just for his Oscar nom, but also for the fact that his performance as Sherlock has increased awareness of British TV and performing arts worldwide. You can see this because they also gave Moffat a CBE for his work in “Drama” (creating and promoting Sherlock.) Plus his charitable work has been consistent and ongoing over his career. It’s not a consolation prize: they’re saying that Cumberbatch has done a lot in addition to the Oscar nominated performance and should be recognized for that.
Redmayne has a Tony award as well.
chiwetel does a lot of charity too. Him and his family have built schools in africa. And he has tons more serious acting awards. He’s so low key though that people probably don’t even realise.
He looks much too thin. I like a little flesh on the ol’ bones. A suitcase of Guinness and a few English pasties should do the trick; or perhaps, a couple ham and butter sandwiches with several pints of Woodchuck.
So bored with comic book movies. I wish BC would do something that’s neither a comic book movie or an Oscar-baity biopic. Will be skipping this one.
Don’t hold your breath. He’s after money, and that’s where the money is these days.
The pre production artwork and interview with Benedict shown at D23 in Anaheim convinced me this is going to be terrific.
I’ve been losing my thrill over Marvel films over the past few years, but this one is reigniting it. Swinton?? Ejiofor?? I’ll be there for the sneak peak.
Mikkelsen as well!
+1
+2
I’ll show up for Tilda.
Cast is fabulous – Cumberbatch the least interesting member of it for me, if it comes to it, and I’ve been a huge fan of Mikkelsen’s since Citron and Flame, if you haven’t seen it, a fantastic Danish film about Danish resistance fighters. I’ll buy a ticket for sure, but I do hope the costume and makeup department can do better with the rest of the costumes than that beard, which looks – well, stuck on with glue.
Mads is god. I have seen loads of his Danish films and they are all amazing. Also, he looks mighty good in them cough *naked shower scene * cough. Sorry. 🙂
I didn’t know Rachel McAdams was going to be in the film.
Boy did Chitiwel get the short end of the stick. He received his CBE from Willnot. I find that to be insulting on his behalf.
???? Charles is abroad and the Queen rarely does this stuff any longer. Wills has been doing the investitures for some time and plenty of other very famous people have gotten theirs from him. Was Andy Murray “insulted” when he got his OBE from William last year?!
I bet Chitiwel doesn’t even care.
You know I never really noticed it before but if you remove the moustache from Cumberbatch’s beard (no, not Sophie) he could pass for a very good Abraham Lincoln. Especially now when he’s looking so gaunt and old.
I nearly choked on my Pale IPA. lol
he’s supposed to look gaunt and run down actually. it’s perf
after strange has his accident, he runs though his money, loses everything and is homeless
I’m kind of digging the shaggy look on him. For one, the beard hides his weak chin and the long hair frames his long face well. Anyway, really looking forward to this film.
He looks so thin!
I think it’s the makeup. I saw him about 3 weeks ago in Hamlet and I did not come away from that thinking that he was too thin. He’s always been somewhat slight, but nothing that would make you think he was ill or anything.
Well, we saw him on closing night and he is really thin. The biceps are alright, but the rest of him not so much. But I guess it was because of Hamlet.
That was my first thought too. He looks so thin! The prominent cheekbones coupled with the extra fullness added to the jawline from the beard just emphasizes how gaunt his cheeks have become. (of course there’s make-up involved, but still!)
That beard is ridiculous. Though I guess BC isn’t really up to growing a beard – time constraints aside. He’s had the occasional bit of scruff in the past but I don’t think he can grow a proper beard. I’m guessing the goatee will be false as well. I can’t see a man trying to grow a goatee underneath a fake beard.
Anyone else getting flashes of in Fantastic Four where Ioan Gruffudd had astoundingly badly dyed “gray” streaked hair. I kept getting distracted from that movie by the bad hair and now with this movie, if I see it, I have the feeling I’ll just be staring at the facial hair waiting for it to fall off. smh.
Somehow I missed that Chiwetel and Mads were in this. Really excited for it now.
OMG…I am in Kathmandu! I had no idea about this, I’ll keep a lookout for him!
Lol at everyone pretending their not excited because of Cumby… OK keep deluding yourselves
I think it’s great. He’s got the lead in a marvel movie with an outstanding cast – way to go Benny, you deserve it 🙂
Well, I never watched Star Trek into Darkness despite being a fan of BC. Because wild horses couldn’t force me to watch ST.
The same would probably have been for DS, but when you add Mads, Tilda and Chiwetel to the mix, even tripe may suddenly become watchable.
I think it’s what people mean, no disrespect to BC.
Not pretending. Not excited. Not deluded.