Benedict Cumberbatch On Getting Into Shape For 'Doctor Strange'
by Sebastian Peris on October 21, 2016
Considering Doctor Strange's powers are magical based, you may have suspected that lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch would have been spared of the rigorous physical training his Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars have endured. However, Cumberbatch revealed in an interview with EW that he still had to hit the gym in order to play The Sorcerer Supreme.
While few would consider Cumberbatch out of shape, the British actor explained that his physique had improved enough for his Sherlock family to take notice. "One of my friends on the set of Sherlock, she said, 'Man, you got henched,'" Cumberbatch says. "I said, 'What is that?' She said, 'You're quite buff.'"
While some would consider the task of getting into superhero-worthy shape to be a grueling ordeal, Cumberbatch insists the process may not be as difficult as it sounds and appeared to be appreciative of the experience.
"You eat very well, you get trained by brilliant people, you work out and you do yoga, you have a physio if you injure yourself, you do stunts, you do running, you have someone editing your diet. It's all handed to you. It's not that hard. You just really have to apply yourself. We're lucky. People would kill for that kind of experience. As long as you do it sensibly, it's safe. There are good ways of doing it and there are bad ways of doing it. You can do a body-building thing where you're destroying your body to rip new muscle or you can do it the way I did it, which is quite diligently, over a long period of time, with a healthy diet."
While much of the attention and praise for the film has been directed towards the visuals, it appears Cumberbatch did his best to ensure he was in top shape in order to deliver some great physical action well.
Marvel's Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City's Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.
Directed by Scott Derrikson and written by C. Robert Cargill, Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton.
Doctor Strange opens in theaters across North America on November 4, 2016.
Sebastian Peris
Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.