Doctor Strange introduced viewers to a different side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe they hadn’t seen before, one with a unique type of magic that included many spells, artifacts, and places, such as the Sanctum Sanctorum. The address of the building is no secret to fans of the comics, but to those unfamiliar with them, it sounded like it was a reference to Sherlock Holmes, but it has nothing to do with him – though it still has an interesting story.

Renowned neurosurgeon turned sorcerer Stephen Strange made his debut in the MCU in 2016 in the film simply titled Doctor Strange. Many characters and elements from Strange’s comic books made it to the big screen, such as the Eye of Agamotto, Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and the Sanctum Sanctorum, a focal point for supernatural energies and one of the buildings that serve as residence for sorcerers. The one shown in the film is located in New York City, and Strange arrived there to protect it from Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), and has stayed there ever since.

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Doctor Strange revealed the address of the Sanctum Sanctorum, which sounds very similar to a certain place in London where a famous detective lived, making many believe that it was a reference to him, but it actually has a very different origin.

Doctor Strange: The Story Behind The Sanctum Sanctorum’s Address

Doctor Strange's Sanctum Santorum

As mentioned above, the Sanctum Sanctorum is located in New York City, specifically in 177A Bleecker Street, which sounds a lot like Sherlock Holmes’ address in London. The Great Detective and his friend and partner Dr. John Watson lived in 221B Baker Street, which does sound similar to the Sanctum Sanctorum’s address. Given that Benedict Cumberbatch plays both Doctor Strange and Sherlock Holmes, many viewers believed the address was a reference to Holmes, but it has nothing to do with it.

In fact, the address of the Sanctum Sanctorum is that of a townhouse apartment shared by Marvel Comics writers Gary Friedrich and Roy Thomas back in the 1960s. Thomas wrote many Doctor Strange stories, though funny enough not the one where the address is revealed to be 177A Bleecker Street (Strange Tales #110, published in 1963). The building appeared again in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, where Hulk traveled to 2012 to retrieve the Time Stone. While they sound alike, it’s just a fun coincidence that they have a similar structure and that Cumberbatch has played both characters, and just like 221B Baker Street, Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum has its own story.

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