Cumberbatch Has a Shaky Explanation for Dr. Strange’s Spider-Man Screw-Up

There’s quite a bit to take pleasure in about Spider-Man: No Way Home, however essentially the most awkward a part of the complete film has all the time been how two franchises of Spider-Men had been introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Doctor Strange casually making an attempt to solid a spell to make the world overlook Peter Parker is Spidey, solely to get distracted, screw it up, and tear some main holes within the multiverse. Cumberbatch has a justification for the ex-Sorcerer Supreme’s actions, however… it’s not a very good one.

Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter on all issues Strange, Cumberbatch’s rationalization is as follows:

“He’s a human being, and I think it was a very human error. He saw Peter as a fellow foot soldier and then as a teenager going through a very formative experience of not being able to be his true self because of being exposed, and having lost a mentor, [Strange] decided to step in with a gesture of pretty good intention.

“But people seemed to think, ‘Well, it’s a very cavalier thing to do.’ I think the spell, on its own, might have been all right. Everyone forgets that Peter interrupts the spell so many times, and that’s what corrupted it. That’s what lets it in. Peter, through the ability he has with his powers, affects the spell with his words. It’s not really Strange’s mistake. He’s right to want to help Peter. What kind of superhero would he be if he didn’t want to help another superhero?”

People make errors, even Sorcerers Supreme, certain. And the actor is true that superheroes would and may need to assist their fellow superheroes, particularly in the event that they had been each blipped out of existence collectively, even when famous asshole Strange doesn’t actually appear to have any actual affection for Peter when the latter stops by to ask for assist in No Way Home. But nobody is saying in any other case!

The drawback is that Wong instructed him the magic was too harmful, Strange did it anyway, after which he by some means wasn’t competent sufficient to forestall a chatty teenager from screwing up the spell? He couldn’t have teleported Peter away, or magicked his mouth shut, or one thing? Can Doctor Strange be defeated merely by speaking to him whereas he’s making an attempt to solid magic? Well, in No Way Home, sure.

So the spell was executed very cavalierly, it was half-assed, after which Strange left Peter to wash up the mess. Even if Cumberbatch is true and Strange had the noblest of causes beneath his dickish demeanor, he nonetheless managed to be an asshole and unhealthy at his job. That’s the issue. But no less than it led to a extremely entertaining film.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to anticipate the newest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every part you could find out about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.