Movies - TV
Benedict Cumberbatch Turned Down the First MCU Role He
Was Offered
By SANDY SCHAEFER
In an alternate universe, MCU fans might’ve gotten Tom Cruise as Iron Man, Emily Blunt as Black Widow, and Tom Hiddleston portraying Thor instead of Loki. Another surprising could’ve-been casting was Benedict Cumberbatch as Malekith the Accursed in 2013’s "Thor: The Dark World.”
In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Cumberbatch explained that he got the offer to play Malekith after he had finished playing Khan in “Star Trek Into Darkness.” While the actor was “really flattered to be invited to the party,” he didn’t want to play back-to-back villains, adding that “[he] was bold enough to say, 'I'd rather hold out for something a bit more juicy.’”
In hindsight, Cumberbatch made the right decision, as his "Doctor Strange" role is much more interesting than playing Malekith in a one-off role. He also may have dodged a bullet, as "Thor: The Dark World" is the second worst reviewed MCU film on Rotten Tomatoes (66% critics score) and was hindered by creative clashes between Marvel Studios and the film’s directors.