Benedict Cumberbatch reveals that he feels conflicted about starring in so many movies in the MCU. Cumberbatch first joined the MCU with 2016's Doctor Strange, bringing the iconic master of the mystic arts to life on the big screen for the first time. Since his origin movie, Cumberbatch has reprised the role a number of times, including in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and most recently, Spider-Man: No Way Home. The actor is also set to get another standalone MCU film in the coming months with the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

In addition to his work in the MCU, Cumberbatch also frequently stars in smaller, more auteur-driven films. Most recently, the actor appeared in The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion's Western drama for Netflix, which has been nominated for a number of Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Cumberbatch is also well known for other non-superhero movies and shows, including Sherlock, The Imitation Game, The Current War, 1917, The Courier, and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.

Related: Benedict Cumberbatch's New Movie Shows The MCU Has Wasted Him

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Cumberbatch reflects on his MCU career and how it feels to straddle the line between massive blockbuster entertainment franchises and smaller, more auteur-driven cinema. "Am I working for the Goliath that's killing the David?" he asks. Cumberbatch explains that both types of movies are challenging for him as an actor in different ways, saying, "artistically, I never think of the two as completely mutually exclusive." Check out Cumberbatch's full comment below about how difficult it is to get original projects made these days:

“Unless you have a Marvel star, financing any film is very, very, very, very difficult—no matter how important the story, no matter how urgent the story, no matter how talented and awarded and appreciated the artist is.”

Benedict Cumberbatch whistling in The Power of the Dog

Financing movies that are not based on pieces of existing intellectual property has become increasingly more difficult because of the amount of risk involved. If a character or story already has a built-in fan base – like a Marvel superhero, for instance – there's a higher chance that a movie made about that IP will be profitable. While The Power of the Dog is based on a 1967 novel of the same name, it was likely Cumberbatch's involvement that ultimately helped that movie get made. In terms of Cumberbatch's David and Goliath comment, it's clear that he's wrestling with the idea that the massive MCU blockbusters he stars in are at least partially responsible for the decline in the number of smaller auteur-driven projects that are getting made these days.

While the issue of MCU movies versus original movies is hardly black and white, Cumberbatch's comments do speak to some of the issues plaguing the state of cinema today. Smaller movies like The Power of the Dog are simply more risky propositions and financiers are much more likely to lose millions by investing in them. From a business standpoint, large IP-driven blockbusters do make more sense, at least when it comes to traditional, theatrically-released movies. Cumberbatch's comments, however, suggest that it's his status as a Marvel superhero that will help get smaller, auteur-driven projects like The Power of the Dog off the ground.

More: How Sherlock's Unaired Pilot Would've Changed Benedict Cumberbatch's Character

Source: Vanity Fair

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