There have been various criticisms lobbed at the Marvel Cinematic Universe films over the years, with some of the more academic ones centring on the lack of depth and serious character work in the films – especially the ensemble-driven ones.
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who has played Doctor Strange across multiple MCU films, is familiar with movies of all kinds, from large studio projects heavily driven by the plot to smaller indies with a big focus on character.
Recently he spoke with The Talks, and the topic of the creative restraints of the MCU popped up with the actor saying he finds it hard to get into deeply emotional or character-driven scenes in those films due – in no small part – to lack of screen time amongst a large ensemble and having to service a rather large story:
“It’s not some sort of acting gym where you’re stripping off layers of self to reveal a layer of truth all the time. You are working to do some of that, but in the heartbeat of making a massive film like ‘The Avengers,’ for example, it can be tough getting that one moment of emotion absolutely nailed in five minutes because that’s all the time they have because of the other, bigger things around it. In this instance, it’s not a massive development of the character, it’s about how to service the story at the same time as balancing the integrity of a now much-loved part of the Marvel cinematic universe.”
That’s not to say such filmmaking isn’t without its pleasures or challenges, with some of the said pleasure being working alongside talent who know their roles inside out:
“So, I learn on every job. I would like to think I learn. I learn by watching other people. It was wonderful to watch Robert. It is wonderful to watch him, and to watch people who really know what they are playing inside out.”
His character in particular, outside of his solo films, spends much of his time doing exposition dumps and moving the story along rather than focusing on developing the character. Even his own film, the recent ‘Strange’ sequel, shifted a good chunk of its focus to the story of Wanda Maximoff (Elisabeth Olsen).
Cumberbatch says that his “Sherlock” series has had a much bigger reach due to being TV, and thus “it’s more democratic, more people have seen it. The reach that program has had is extraordinary.”
