The presence and performance of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the MCU is undeniably one of the most iconic and memorable. However, he’s not the only one. Chris Evans’ Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man all rank alongside the Iron Avenger in terms of quality. Although Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange has taken the MCU by storm, it’s someone else who has taken center stage: Chris Evans’ Captain America.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the next film in which the character will appear. This is following his recent role on NWH where the Doctor Strange star was seen repairing his nearly universe-ending gaffe. In 2016, he made his debut, and the relevance of his depiction was immediately recognized by everyone.
Marvel Studios and Benedict Cumberbatch both agreed that the Doctor Strange star was a great choice for the role of the sorcerer before he was even cast. Now, it would be strange to have an MCU without the well-known actor and the hero he portrays. Following his first few years of magical service, the actor has now received a special award for his part in the most cohesive cinematic universe to date.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Welcomes Doctor Strange
Some of the greatest actors of all time have their names inscribed on this famous sidewalk in Hollywood. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is now a permanent part of the cast.
President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige was in attendance, and he gave a speech to the Sorcerer Supreme hopeful that was streamed by Variety. Speaking about how it’s always a special occasion when someone receives a star on the sidewalk, Feige reminisced:
“This is awesome, this is incredible, this is um, an iconic street to have literally put in stone your legacy. I love the Walk of Fame, it has meant so much to me over my whole life coming here as a tourist and to see you get this is heartwarming and really means a lot. It’s always special to come witness somebody get their star and you might say, one might say that there’s a little bit of magic to watch these sidewalk ceremonies, and of course that’s particularly appropriate considering who we’re honoring here today.”
Aside from his work as Hamlet, Sherlock Holmes, and Khan in Star Trek, he went on to say that the Doctor Strange star has played “so many roles.” As a result, Marvel CEO Kevin Feige emphasized that the actor is “the one and only Dr. Stephen Strange”:
“There are so many roles you’ve played Benedict, that have made you worthy of this prestigious honor. You were an amazing Hamlet. You were an incredible Sherlock Holmes. You were the second best Khan ever, ever. You were brilliant in all the iconic roles, but to us and to millions around the globe, you deserve this honor for being the first, the best, the greatest and the only Doctor Stephen Strange.”
As a result of Cumberbatch’s “tremendous” vision for Doctor Strange’s future, Feige called Cumberbatch “the anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe”:
“Benedict has turned this character into an icon, appearing in a historic three of the top six films of all time. It’s been quite a journey. I remember our very first meeting was set up as a general, and we wanted to pitch him this great character, and before we could, he said ‘So tell me about Doctor Strange,’ because you knew. Because somewhere you knew what this could be and you’ve always seen the tremendous potential in this character. Because of that, you’ve become the anchor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the only actor capable of guiding us through the madness of the Multiverse.”
After congratulating Cumberbatch and telling him “we love you…thank you:” the legendary producer concluded by “speak[ing] on behalf of the world and particularly of Marvel Studios”:
“And of course, it’s not just the roles on-screen that make you so remarkable. It’s the roles off-screen as well: husband, father, creative collaborator, partner, actor with the busiest schedule in the world who gives our physical production team heartburn trying to make the dates work, and friend. Thank you sir, for your extraordinary contributions to the MCU and to the industry from Shakespeare to Roddenberry, from 221B Baker Street to 177A Bleeker Street, you have secured a well-deserved place in history with this star. And I know I speak on behalf of the world and particularly of Marvel Studios, I say congratulations and we love you. Thank you.”
The Leader Of The Pact In The MCU
Stephen Strange appears to be one of the most important and key characters in the MCU now that Iron Man is out of commission and Steve Rogers is off the table. Even if he isn’t the Sorcerer Supreme, he is still responsible for protecting all of reality.
With Multiverse of Madness, his upcoming film, he’ll have a tough time keeping up. In addition to dealing with Gargantos and a fragile Multiverse, he also has a Scarlet Witch who appears to be losing her mind.
Because of the MCU’s ever-expanding scope, Strange isn’t the only one who holds a significant place of prominence. With so many factors at play, it’s unlikely that anyone will ever be able to hold that position alone.
