Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be the next addition to Marvel Studios' theatrical slate following the wildly-successful Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Benedict Cumberbatch's solo sequel is matching the hype that came from his last movie in 2021, it's also been plagued with difficulties throughout most of its production.
Issues started when Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson left the director's chair for this project, even though he remained involved as a producer while Sam Raimi took over his position. Then came the pandemic-induced delays that pushed the entire Phase 4 schedule back, which preceded six weeks of reshoots for the sequel, although the reasons behind the latter are still unknown.
Ahead of Multiverse of Madness' release, Cumberbatch has spent plenty of time on the interview train discussing every angle of his work on the second Doctor Strange solo outing.
Most recently, he shared his thoughts on the challenges behind making this film, getting honest about how tough it's been to make this blockbuster happen.
Cumberbatch Gets Candid on Doctor Strange Challenges
Speaking with Deadline during a press round for The Power of the Dog, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Benedict Cumberbatch was honest about how difficult his experience was making the movie.
Although he clarified that it wasn't a bad experience, he admitted that things were tough due to the "constructions of a pandemic" and the delays that this caused. Cumberbatch spoke for many of his co-stars and crew members in saying how difficult it was, but he also shared that it was "no less enjoyable" than his first solo movie.
In the end, although the team had plenty of difficulties, Cumberbatch has high hopes for the new MCU outing when it debuts:
"It’s been tough. I’ll be honest with you. It’s had quite a journey, this film. But not in a kind of poor me way, just like the nature of where we’re at. To try and make a massive film like that under the constrictions of a pandemic and the delays that have ensued, partly because of The Power of the Dog, but also because of everything that was lined up and had to be pushed back from Marvel. It’s been tough for everyone. Also, incredibly enjoyable and no less enjoyable than the first one. So, I hope the results are as good, but yeah, I think it can’t be underestimated. It’s really… This is a film that has a lot of resources. It’s nothing compared to the struggles of live performance. It’s really, it’s tough, but very rewarding, very fun."
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be the next addition to Marvel Studios' theatrical slate following the wildly-successful Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Benedict Cumberbatch's solo sequel is matching the hype that came from his last movie in 2021, it's also been plagued with difficulties throughout most of its production.
Cumberbatch Still Optimistic on Doctor Strange Results
The global pandemic did the filming industry no favors, especially with Marvel Studios looking to its biggest expansion yet for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Initially meant to release in May 2021 when Phase 4 was first announced, the delays forced Doctor Strange 2's debut to November 2021 and March 2022 before it settled in for this spring.
Considering how many delays the Multiversal sequel has faced, there are certainly concerns about how comprehensive the story will be, especially with how much new material is included. Marvel Studios is set to explore the Multiverse more fully here than in any project to date, with the ambitions behind it rivaling those of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Although Cumberbatch's quotes have a sense of candidness to them, he does nothing to tone down the excitement for what fans are about to see from his powerful magician and the supporting cast. With only a few weeks until the movie, that excitement will continue to build as more information about the story reveals itself.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will debut in theaters on May 6.
