‘Doctor Strange’ Cast, Updates: Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Character’s Real Heroism; Robert Downey Jr. Makes Cameo as Tony Stark?

‘Doctor Strange’ actor Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that his title character’s real heroism and superhero abilities are attributed to perseverance and endurance and not from ancient artifacts. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to make a surprise cameo as Tony Stark.

Cumberbatch explained the qualities that made his character a real superhero during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He said, “This man reaches the very bottom and then more… You think, How much more can this guy take? He’s broken, he gets up again, he’s broken — and that’s really what makes him a superhero. A lot of people have asked me, ‘What makes him a superhero?’ That’s really the answer I should have given. It’s not the Cloak of Levitation. It’s not the Eye of Agamotto. It’s about his staying power. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. The guy endures so much.”

In the original comic books, brilliant yet arrogant neurosurgeon Stephen Strange suffers a car accident that leaves him crippled. According to Cinema Blend, his handicapped state ruins his career in medicine and he decides to travel to Nepal to study the mystic arts and find a cure. During his journey, he meets his mentor The Ancient One and is trained to become the world’s Master of Mystic Arts Doctor Strange.

Doctor Strange’s powers typically come from three specific divine sources composed of the Vishanti, the Octessence and other beings that owe him a debt. The Vishanti is a triad of godly beings composed of Agamotto, Hoggoth and Osthur while the Octessence are a group of eight beings. Doctor Strange also uses accessories and ancient artifacts such as the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation to give him superhuman abilities.

Joining Cumberbatch in the new cast are Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius, Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, Benedict Wong as Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, and Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West.

Robert Downey Jr. was recently speculated to make a cameo as Tony Stark in the new film, according to Comicbook.com. Rumors of Downey Jr.’s appearance first began when Wong tweeted that filming ended on August 5 – a notable discrepancy from director Scott Derrickson’s announcement that the film finished shooting last April 3.

A recent Twitter post by podcaster and comic book writer The Angry Ginger further fueled those rumors when he wrote, “It appears as if my little spies have bagged me a scoop! Tony Stark may have a cameo in #DoctorStrange.” Tony Stark’s possible cameo may be totally understandable as Iron Man and Doctor Strange both belong in the same cinematic universe created by Marvel.

‘Doctor Strange’ is an upcoming action-adventure and fantasy film scheduled to be released on November 4, 2016. It is directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Marvel Studios. It is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in the United States.