Benedict Cumberbatch Drops Hint That Doctor Strange Will Feature During Thor: Ragnarok

As one of the final standalone pics before Avengers: Infinity War – with Black Panther being the last – Taika Waititi’s threequel Thor: Ragnarok will in many ways be tasked with teeing up Joe and Anthony Russo’s galactic battle between Thanos and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, be that through some direct plot point or an end-credits sequence.

With such a tremendous cast at their disposal, it’s fair to say that the Russo brothers will be spinning a lot of plates by the time the 2018 event film rolls around, particularly now that Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange has been confirmed as a part of that gigantic ensemble.

But if a fleeting comment by the actor himself is any indication, Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme could be cropping up a little earlier than 2018. Chatting to Interview Magazine (via CBM) and, thanks to a rather novel segment, interviewing co-star and friend Tom Hiddleston, Cumberbatch touched base on the cast assembled for Ragnarok.

I felt it was all about the part rather than everything else. I’ve been to Comic-Con, and it’s a very nice way to give back to the fans that drive these things. It was quite scary. I felt like Pink Floyd. It’s just like, “Hello, hi,” after the fans are all screaming. That side of it is just phenomenal, and it makes me giggle, and I don’t know whether I’ll get used to that. I can’t wait to see how it expands the universe. I’m also part of your crew! It’s an amazing cast of actors. And it’s the most fun hard work you’ll ever do, I think, as an actor. They really know how to treat you right. And the material is challenging, witty, and a lot of fun to do. Doctor Strange is a complex, funny, but exciting character.

Of course, it’s the “I’m also part of your crew!” line that has sent Marvelites into a tizzy, but is the Doctor Strange actor really indicating that he’s set to appear in Thor: Ragnarok come 2017? It’s certainly possible; after all, drafting Cumberbatch in for Taika Waititi’s blockbuster could be Marvel’s way of bolstering the Sorcerer Supreme’s screen presence off the back of his imminent solo outing.

Speaking of which, Doctor Strange is right around the corner, and we can finally look forward to Cumberbatch making his debut as Stephen Strange on November 4, 2016.