The day has arrived, folks. After nearly a year of fan artwork and, more recently, some candid set photos, Marvel Studios has unveiled the first official image ofBenedict Cumberbatchas the titular character in the upcoming superhero filmDoctor Strange(plus a collection of other new images,right here). Based on the comic of the same name, the movie revolves around a self-centered neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of his hands in an auto-accident, seeks a desperate fix way up in the Himalayas, where he discovers mysticism in the form of his future mentor The Ancient One, who imbues Stephen Strange with magic powers.
This first-look photo actually looksexactlylike some of the fan art that’s been making the rounds, so clearly Marvel and directorScott Derrickson(Sinister) aren’t veering too far away from the character’s comics origins when it comes to his looks. However, while Cumberbatch has been filming for a couple of months already, theEWphoto shoot was the first time he had tried on the costume that Strange dons once gifted with magical powers. As a result, Cumberbatch said he was still in the process of figuring out his hand gestures:
“I’m still in the infancy of learning all that. It was like, okay, I’ve got to keep throwing these poses, these spells, these rune-casting things, everything he does physically. I’m thinking, there’s going to be a huge amount of speculation and intrigue over the positioning ofthatfinger as opposed to it beingthere, orthere. And I’m still working on that. We haven’t playedanyof those scenes yet. I felt really self-conscious. But, then, by the end, it was great. It’s like anything, you just have to experiment.”
The film is a promising new entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Derrickson having assembled quite possibly the studio’s most impressive cast yet. In addition to Cumberbatch, the film also starsTilda Swinton,Chiwetel Ejiofor,Rachel McAdams, andMads Mikkelsen.PrometheusscribeJon Spaihtspenned the initial draft of the script, with Derrickson subsequently bringing on hisSinisterco-writerC. Robert Cargillto further fine-tune the screenplay.
EW says to expect more info onDoctor Strangethis week as part of its latest issue, but for now take a close look at the photo below for some steely-eyed Cumberbatch goodness.Doctor Strangeopens in theaters on June 20, 2025.
