When it was announced Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch would be making his Comic-Con International debut to promote Penguins of Madagascar and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, it seemed to only fuel rumors that he might headline Marvel's Doctor Strange. After all, it would be a pretty clever way to explain his presence in San Diego without blowing the big Hall H presentation on Saturday.

But to the disappointment of scores of fans who were undoubtedly already practicing their Sherlock/Strange mash-up art, it doesn't appear as if the Sorcerer Supreme is in Cumberbatch's future.

“As far as I’m aware, even if that was the case, it couldn’t work out because I’m doing a little play called Hamlet in London,” the actor tells MTV News. “So I don’t think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”

Asked whether he ever had "actual discussions" with Marvel about the role, Cumberbatch was a little less forthcoming, saying, “I couldn’t possibly comment."

Directed by Scott Derrickson, Doctor Strange is expected to be officially announced Saturday in Hall H.