Spider-Man: No Way Home spoilers follow.
Spider-Man: No Way Home had unintended consequences for the universe when Peter Parker's request for everyone to forget he's Spider-Man caused chaos – as a spell being performed by Doctor Strange to do just that went wrong.
With alternate versions of classic characters unleashed and the multiverse thrown wide open, you would be forgiven for landing the blame squarely on Doctor Strange's shoulders. However, Benedict Cumberbatch has defended his character, saying that really, Peter and his insistent chatter should be held accountable.
Related: Spider-Man fan spots No Way Home cameo you might have missed
"I know we all love Peter Parker, but can we just rewind to the point that the spell is interrupted something like six times?" Cumberbatch said to Total Film magazine.
"I think it's just too easily written off as: 'He's going to have to pay for his arrogance'. It's not all arrogance, actually. I think some of it is a very calculated risk. But we'll see where that takes him [in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]."
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Teasing where the Doctor Strange sequel picks up from after the multiverse-tampering moment, Cumberbatch revealed that the scope of the film makes it one of Marvel's most ambitious yet, and could have further far-reaching consequences.
"It is madness, for sure, what happens in our film. It's pretty full-on. And it's big, man. It's very, very ambitious. And if we bring it off, I think it could be one of the biggest [Marvel films] we've seen so far."
Related: Benedict Cumberbatch reveals what Tom Holland taught him on Avengers: Infinity War
The new film will see Doctor Strange dealing with the ramifications of his spell as he is brought in front of The Illuminati, with the latest trailer teasing the return of X-Men's Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier.
Commenting on the rumours of his appearance in the movie, Stewart said that he was surprised how fans were able to make the connection from small clues in the footage.
"I actually didn't recognise my own voice. It sounded different. Whether I had a cold or something at the time, I don't know. I was astonished – and all they saw was the back of my shoulder and I think my earlobe, nothing else – that there would have been so many connections made. But it pleased me [to see the reactions]."
Spider-Man: No Way Home is available to buy now on Prime Video, iTunes, Microsoft Store and other digital retailers, while Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is due to be released on May 5, 2022.
![Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness [DVD]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1654869402-51BnASiek9L._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness [DVD]")
![Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga - Collector's Edition [Blu-ray, region-free]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1592930813-51rTY4QSSxL.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Marvel Studios: The Infinity Saga - Collector's Edition [Blu-ray, region-free]")
Hannah Bird is a freelance sub-editor with over 10 years of experience in content creation and editorial across digital and print media.
Beginning as a Lifestyle and Travel Editor, Hannah's expertise has since spanned entertainment, health, wellness and science, developing a keen eye for copy editing. Bringing her research skills as an Earth Science academic, Hannah enjoys thoroughly delving into topics to explore new angles and offer fresh stories to readers, as well as priding herself on the content's accuracy.
