Why Benedict Cumberbatch Has “Second Album Fear” For Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sequel Benedict Cumberbatch has admitted that he is concerned about measuring up to its predecessor. Throughout the Marvel

By Mabel Judith Andrady
November 11,2021
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sequel Benedict Cumberbatch has admitted that he is concerned about measuring up to its predecessor. Throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed Dr. Stephen Strange since his debut appearance in Scott Derickson’s 2016 film Doctor Strange, which earned $678 million at the box office. With his command of the mystical arts, Doctor Strange has become one of the most powerful superheroes in the Marvel universe.

In Conversation About Second Album Fear

As Spider-Man: No Way Home nears its release, Cumberbatch has been cast as Dr. Strange, tasked by Peter Parker with erasing the memory of Spider-Man’s existence from the public consciousness. Strange’s long-awaited sequel to his stand-alone feature, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has been given the MCU’s first-ever horror movie title, which will be released next year. After Wandavision surfaced to show her chaos magic in the dying seconds, fans know that Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch will be with Strange in the sequel.

Dr. Strange

According to Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may not have the same “riotous success” as the previous film. On Esquire’s cover story, the actor talked about his “second album fear” for the sequel to Doctor Strange, as well as how much success it has had since its release in 2012. He then went on to say that Strange has become a beloved figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is what Cumberbatch said in precise words:

“I’ve got the Second Album Fear with this one, like anyone should, because the first one was such a riotous success and he’s become a much-loved character.”

Why Is Cumberbatch Worried?

Elizabeth Olsen Doctor Strange

As Cumberbatch points out, while Marvel is “quite excellent at exceeding expectations,” doing so when those expectations are already sky-high. Doctor Strange 2 will have Sam Raimi, the filmmaker of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy, in charge of it. The original Spider-Man films are held in high esteem by many, which certainly raises the bar for expectations. There are also whispers that Maguire himself could feature in Spider-Man: No Way Home opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. This shows the web of expectations that are surrounding these upcoming Marvel productions. ‘

When you consider the massive audiences that Marvel has collected over the previous 13 years, intense fan conjecture is inevitable. For example, if you combine that with MCU films’ comic-book storytelling grandeur, it’s clear why a movie can’t possibly please everyone in the audience. Understandably, Cumberbatch is concerned. While the Marvel universe rarely suffers from sequel-itis, audiences will have to wait until the mid-next year to find out just what Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has in store for them.