Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Joining “Spider-Man” 3

Well, this is intriguing. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will be joining Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in Spider-Man 3. Strange will ostensibly be filling the mentor role that Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury previously held for the young web-slinger. The Hollywood Reporter revealed the news yesterday, promising another tasty crossover between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.

Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark was Peter Parker’s original mentor, beginning with 2016’s Captain America: Civil War (Tony rather selfishly recruited Spidey to help him battle Captain America in Germany), and continuing through Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and briefly, in that potent third act reunion in Avengers: Endgame. Once Tony sacrificed himself at the end of Endgame, the mentor role was picked up by Jackson’s Nick Fury in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Granted, Fury wasn’t quite as doting as Stark, but he still looked out for the kid—kind of.

Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is another prickly character, but, a brilliant and powerful figure who will make for a very interesting father figure for Parker. Cumberbatch joins another surprise addition—Jamie Foxx, who is reprising his role as Electro from 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which starred Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man.

As for the Doctor Strange franchise, Doctor Strange Into the Multiverse of Madness has another Spider-Man connection; the great Sam Raimi is directing, the man who elevated the superhero film genre with his excellent Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004). Considering Raimi’s film will explore Strange’s ability to tap into alternate realities and dimensions, there’s speculation that this might be how Foxx’s Electro gets pulled into the fray for Spider-Man 3.

Into the Multiverse of Madness is expected to start filming this month in London. Spider-Man 3 is due to start filming later this month in Atlanta. Jon Watts returns to direct Spider-Man 3, having helmed the first two installments of the Tom Holland Spider-Man era. Returning cast members include Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Tony Revolori, and Jacob Batalon.

Featured image: Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. L to R: Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wong (Benedict Wong). Photo: Film Frame. ©Marvel Studios 2018