THOR 2. If he embodies Doctor Strange brilliantly in Marvel films, Benedict Cumberbatch could have played the big bad in Thor The Dark World.
[Mis à jour le 10 juillet 2022 à 20h30] Known as one of the worst movies in the cinematic universe Marvel, Thor The Dark World hasn’t especially passed on to the good side of posterity. But did you know that Alan Taylor’s film could have won the services of Benedict Cumberbatch ? Indeed, the actor of Star Trek Into Darkness, Sherlock and The Hobbit trilogy was approached by Marvel studios to play the role of Malekith, the big bad of Thor 2. At least that’s what an excerpt reveals. from the making of book “The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe”. Asked about this by BBC Radio 1 in May 2022 in full promotion of Doctor Strange 2, the actor confirms.
At the time, Benedict Cumberbatch is “flattered to be invited to the party” but prefers to decline the proposal, in particular because he had just come out of the role of the infamous Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness by JJ Abrams. He explains to British radio: “I had the audacity to tell Marvel: I prefer to wait for something a little more crisp”. The role finally fell to Christopher Eccleston who therefore embodies the role of the dark elf Malekith in Thor The Dark World.
In the end, the studio was not let down by this refusal and did not stop courting Benedict Cumberbatch who was offered the role of Doctor Strange shortly after. “I wasn’t really considered for Doctor Strange until Marvel came back to me after that…” After some time of negotiation, the British actor ended up accepting this second proposal to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel Universe. And great good has taken him since, since Doctor Strange (2016) Cumberbatch has appeared in not one but six Marvel films including some of his greatest hits Spider-Man No Way Home, Avengers Infinity War and Endgame.
Synopsis – Thor protects the Earth and the Nine Realms from the attacks of Malekith the Accursed. Helped by an army of dangerous dark elves, Malekith the Accursed never ceases to want to plunge the universe back into total darkness. Thor will have to give up what he holds most dear to save the Humans.