Benedict Cumberbatch almost played Thor’s enemy in the MCU. So before he took on the role of Strange, he was almost seen in another movie.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1 told Cumberbatch that he disapproved of Malekith’s role in Thor: The Dark World. That role eventually went to Christopher Eccleston. Cumberbatch wanted a different kind of role after his work on Star Trek Into Darkness.
“The role of Doctor Strange came funnily enough after an invitation to another character in the MCU, a very short character,” Cumberbatch said, referring to Malekith. “I was bold enough to say, ‘I’m really flattered to be invited, but I’d rather wait for something else'”
Cumberbatch was hesitant at first about the role of Strange. He thought the character was “a bit of a misogynist, very tied up in the ’70s.” In the end, Cumberbatch was convinced to take the part after all and the rest is history.
Cumberbatch had a strong start in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. That film eventually made more than half a billion dollars. You can read more about this in a recent interview with Doctor Strange writer Michael Waldron.
