Thor 2 Avoided Disaster By Passing On Benedict Cumberbatch’s Villain Casting
Benedict Cumberbatch, who now plays Doctor Strange, was almost cast as one of the MCU's most forgettable villains in Thor: The Dark World. Benedict Cumberbatch made his MCU debut in 2016's Doctor Strangeas the titular character and quickly became one of the most popular characters in the shared universe. The next Cumberbatch-led MCU film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is shaping up to one of the most important Phase 4 entries as it delves deep into the multiverse and pits strange against an evil variant of himself. However, this central role in the wider MCU is only possible because of a fortuitous casting decision in 2012.
The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a book quickly that is rising in popularity, reveals that Cumberbatch was originally considered for the role of Malekith the Accursed in the Thor sequel. Christopher Eccleston was ultimately cast to play the Thor villain, in what most audiences consider to be one of the most forgettable MCU releases. Eccleston's performance failed to save Malekith's character from bad screenwriting and a shallow motivation, with many critics deeming the Dark Elf as one of the worst villains of the MCU.
Related: How Marvel Phase 4 Can Bring Back (& Fix) Thor 2's Villain
While Cumberbatch could have made for a better villain given his role in 2013's Star Trek: Into Darkness, casting him as Malekith would have robbed both him and MCU viewers from experiencing his excellent portrayal of Doctor Strange. Marvel Studios have done a stellar job when it comes to choosing the right actors to bring their iconic characters to the big screen, and Cumberbatch's Strange is no exception. Wasting the Sherlock actor's talents on a two-dimensional
Read more on screenrant.com
