Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that the one Marvel Cinematic Universe actor he is most keen on sharing more screen time with is Samuel L. Jackson.
The actor, who stars as Doctor Strange in the MCU, revealed his dream scene partner in a recent interview with Oracle Time. "Samuel L. Jackson," he replied, without a moment’s hesitation. "I'd love to share some screen time with him if he's still in it. I don't know any more. I guess it depends what timeline? I sadly didn't have much screen time with Scarlett Johansson and I'd love more with Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. The thing is I came very late to the party when Marvel was just celebrating the first decade with that incredible group shot in Endgame."
After being namedropped in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange made his full MCU debut in 2016's Doctor Strange, which followed the acclaimed neurosurgeon as he described and learned the Mystic Arts. Cumberbatch has since returned as the character in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). He also voiced variants of the character in three episodes of the animated Disney+ series What If...?. Despite the character's increased presence within the MCU, Cumberbatch has only shared one scene with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury: Tony Stark's funeral in Endgame.
Nick Fury Will Deal with a Secret Invasion
Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, who has been part of the shared universe since 2008, had a decreased role in the MCU's Phase 3. However, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director is set to play a major role in the MCU's first crossover event since Endgame, headlining the upcoming Disney+ series, Secret Invasion. The series will adapt the popular comic book storyline of the same name, which saw the Skrulls use their shapeshifting abilities to invade Earth and secretly assume the identities of several superheroes. In addition to Jackson, Secret Invasion will also star several notable MCU characters like Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) and James Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle).
Marvel Studios has not announced when fans can expect to see Cumberbatch back in the MCU as Doctor Strange, but the character is expected to factor into the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars film after the Multiverse of Madness' end-credits scene mentioned an impending incursion event. The term "incursion" means two worlds are about to collide and is from the 2015 Secret Wars comic book storyline. The 2022 superhero film ended with Doctor Strange following fellow sorcerer Clea (Charlize Theron) into the Dark Dimension to help her stop the impending incursion event.
Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are available to stream now on Disney+.
Source: Oracle Time