Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness appears poised to live up to the size its title suggests, as star Benedict Cumberbatch recently said the upcoming film could be the "biggest" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet.
Cumberbatch hinted at the far-reaching impact Multiverse of Madness will have on the MCU, with the actor going on to suggest it could broaden the shared universe to an extent unmatched by any MCU film that has come before. "It is madness, for sure, what happens in our film," Cumberbatch said during an interview with Total Film. "It’s pretty full-on. And it’s big, man. It’s very, very ambitious. And if we bring it off, I think it could be one of the biggest [Marvel films] we’ve seen so far."
Coming off the Multiverse-shaking events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Multiverse of Madness will expand upon the interdimensional rift introduced in that film -- something Cumberbatch believes will help lead Multiverse of Madness to rival the success of No Way Home. "It's a big, big movie," Cumberbatch said of the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel. "It's going to be an absolute riot. And if it brings off the level of ambition it's got, we're going to have a success on the level of Spidey," he said. "There you go, I'll put my flag in the sand."
Disney CEO Bob Chapek has also vouched for the considerable impact the film will have on the rest of the MCU, saying, "With an extraordinary cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch, [Multiverse of Madness] really pushes the boundaries of storytelling and connects pieces of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in unexpected ways. I can't wait for you all to see it."
Despite having expressed concerns about Multiverse of Madness not being "his," Cumberbatch has since assured fans that Doctor Strange's character arc won't be lost in the busy plot of the film. There's a lot of reckoning," Cumberbatch said. "And a lot of self-discovery. Strange is almost a stranger to himself before this film unfolds and reveals what, essentially, is in his nature, that he then has to either confront or resist or fall into or become." While specific details remain sparse, the actor recently broke down the film's title in order to give fans an idea of what they can expect. "The title speaks for the experience of watching it, I believe, and certainly of making it," Cumberbatch said. "There was a lot of madness, a lot of multiverse, and a lot of Doctor Strange."
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters May 6.
Source: Total Film, via GamesRadar+