--- description: Ending months of speculation, the British actor sets the stage for Marvel's "Phase 3" title: Benedict Cumberbatch Confirmed to Play Doctor Strange image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb45abc74b64eb704/69876ccc428a9eb085cc5d42/dr-strange.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Benedict Cumberbatch Confirmed to Play Doctor Strange by [Daniel D'Addario](/author/daniel-daddario/) and [Joseph C. Lin](/author/joseph-c-lin/) Dec 4, 2014 11:09 PM CUT  Marvel/Disney by [Daniel D'Addario](/author/daniel-daddario/) and [Joseph C. Lin](/author/joseph-c-lin/) Dec 4, 2014 11:09 PM CUT Marvel [confirmed](http://marvel.com/news/movies/23754/benedict%5Fcumberbatch%5Fto%5Fplay%5Fdoctor%5Fstrange "undefined") Thursday that Benedict Cumberbatch will star as Doctor Strange in the superhero movie of the same title. Cumberbatch, the British star of TV’s _Sherlock_ and the new movie _The Imitation Game_, was long-rumored to be in line for the part: a former surgeon entrusted with the power to protect Earth from mystical and extraplanetary forces. It’s an apt choice, and not just because of the [actor’s distinctive look](http://marvel.com/news/movies/23754/benedict%5Fcumberbatch%5Fto%5Fplay%5Fdoctor%5Fstrange "undefined"); as [early box-office returns](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/01/the-imitation-game-us-box-office-screen-average "undefined") for _The Imitation Game_ have borne out, Cumberbatch’s fan base is unusually ardent. The announcement about the film, which will release on Nov. 4, 2016, puts an end to months of speculation on who would play the character and sets in motion the foundation for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Actors ranging from Johnny Depp to, most recently, Joaquin Phoenix have previously been tied to the role of Doctor Strange before Cumberbatch, with rampant [online speculation](http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/is-marvels-doctor-strange-being-groomed-to-be-the-next-iron-man "undefined") that the character will eventually be groomed to replace Iron Man as the core of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. _Doctor Strange_ is part of a group of Marvel films known as Phase 3, which include the likes of _Captain America: Civil War_ and _Guardians of the Galaxy 2_, and will take place after the events of the second Avengers movie. It will be a sharp step away from the plausible pseudo-science, first broached by _Iron Man_, that dominates the Marvel movies and will introduce the more strange and fantastical elements of the Marvel Universe. ### Benedict Cumberbatch Roles You Didn’t Know About  Van Gogh: Painted with Words This 2010 docu-drama by the BBC starred Cumberbatch as the tormented Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. BBC  The Other Boleyn Girl Cumberbatch plays William Carey, a courtier and husband to Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson) in this 2008 historical drama pic. Columbia  Amazing Grace Cumberbatch played William Pitt the Younger, the youngest ever Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in this 2006 drama about banning the slave trade in the British Empire. Samuel Goldwyn  Creation Cumberbatch (right) played Joseph Dalton Hooker, an esteemed British botanist and close friend of Charles Darwin (Paul Bettany), in this 2009 British film about Darwin. Newmarket  Stuart: A Life Backwards This 2007 television drama co-produced by the BBC and HBO starred Tom Hardy as the titular character Stuart Shorter, a homeless activist, with Cumberbatch as Alexander Masters, an author and friend of Stuart. HBO  Parade's End The BBC and HBO teamed up for another Cumberbatch series in 2012 with Parade’s End which saw the actor play Christopher Tietjens, an English aristocrat and statistician for the British government. BBC  War Horse Cumberbatch (left) takes on the role of Major Jamie Stewart, the leader of a cavalry company in World War I in this 2011 war drama by Spielberg. Disney  Atonement Marking one of his creepier roles, Cumberbatch played a rapist named Paul Marshall in this 2007 British drama that starred James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. Universal  Fortysomething Cumberbatch plays Rory, the son of Paul Slippery (Hugh Laurie), in this six episode 2003 British comedy television series. ITV  Starter for 10 This 2006 British comedy had Cumberbatch (second from right) take on the role of Patrick Watts, the smug team captain for a British game show called University Challenge. 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