INTERVIEW: Meet a real anarchist

In the real world, there’s nothing really strange about Benedict Cumberbatch. He is the quintessential charmer who can influence people with his charisma and nonchalance with disconcerting ease. Yet, in the wonder universe, he plays the rather tongue-in-cheek superhero Doctor Strange. Although the depiction of Benedict XVI is far from strange, the world and multiverse that this wizard inhabits is certainly offbeat. In an exclusive conversation with Rachit Gupta from ETimes, the Hollywood idol gets into a random mood and talks about time travel, strange rumors and being an agent of chaos. Extracts…

If you had the Time Stone in real life, what story event would you go back to and change?

Some fans think I should go back in time and forget who Mysterio was, that’s what I missed doing in Spider Man. I don’t know if I would change anything in my life. I know we shouldn’t be messing with timelines, it’s all getting topsy-turvy, but there’s been some horrible mess where species is concerned. Maybe I would go back in time and invent another fuel source that wasn’t finite and that wouldn’t destroy our planet and our species.

You give Thanos the Time Stone, you tear the multiverse apart for Spider Man and in this film, you literally turn everything upside down. Is Doctor Strange the agent of chaos in the Marvel universe?

Yeah, he’s the real anarchist isn’t he.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve heard about yourself?

That I own a pig farm in New South Wales.

Have you ever seen an Indian movie?

Yeah, but I can’t remember the name right now.

Who are your favorite Indian actors?

Sir Ben Kingsley and Dev Patel. They are Indian actors and I have just worked with them and they are brilliant.

What was the experience of working with Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch?

She’s wonderful, she’s like a breath of fresh air. She is the true light and force of nature. She just gets on set and everyone gets in the mood. She doesn’t take this ability or herself seriously and yet when she does, she’s fascinating to watch. She is a good actress and a very good friend.

Sam Raimi has taken the reins of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. What is his favorite movie and why?

I watched the first Evil Dead trilogy and The Spider-Man and watched a few other movies of his, especially when he was attached to directing this movie. I thought he was a very obvious candidate for this kind of dark-toned, horror-worthy movie. He has shock horror and jump scares that Sam is a master of. Fans of his work will see many nostalgic moments relived in his methodology and execution. He’s a lovely man and it was a privilege to work with him, he makes a great first audience and it’s nice to be able to make him laugh.