In November 2016, Doctor Strange took the Marvel Cinematic Universe by storm by introducing Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange. The film became a hit by embracing action, comedy, and magic in ways that the MCU had never done before, but the process wasn't an easy one for everyone involved. In fact, in a recent interview, Doctor Strange actor Scott Adkins opened up and revealed that he nailed Cumberbatch in the chest while filming one of the movie's standout fight scenes where the two were fighting while running up a building. Adkins explained how they were filming the same scene over and over again and he wasn't hitting the mark, until a series of unfortunate events led to him totally kicking the other actor. He said:
Benedict's such a lovely guy. But there's a bit where we run up the wall, and the first thing I do is jump onto a banister. I have to jump off the banister and 'kick' Benedict in the chest. We're on about the 10th take, and I've either missed or not hit him hard enough... lots of pressure. On the 10th take, I could see the faces are dropping a bit, and I'm like 'Oh fuck it, I'm just gonna have to go for it.' Benedict probably thought, 'Oh I'm going to help him out a little bit here by coming a little closer for his kick.' And I smashed him, hard, in the chest. And he went back, and he smashed off the banister with his back. And I do remember thinking, 'Easy Scott, that was a little bit too hard there, mate.' But he was great. He was fine about it.
The scene in question takes place toward the end of Doctor Strange's second act when Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and his goons stage an all-out assault on the Sanctum Sanctorum. Benedict Cumberbatch and Scott Adkins got to exchange some impressive fake blows during the fight sequence, but in his comments on the Empire podcast, Akins revealed that the pressure of filming the scene led to one kick getting a bit too real during a later take. Luckily, Cumberbatch was fine and seemed to take the whole thing in good spirits, at least per what Scott Adkins said.
The good news is that the final product came off without a hitch, and you can check out a clip from that badass fight sequence, below!
Despite how painful this whole ordeal sounds for Benedict Cumberbatch, there's also a sense that things might not get any easier for The Sorcerer Supreme going forward. Stephen Strange will appear in Avengers: Infinity War and play an integral role in the battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin) and The Black Order, so much of the marketing material for the film seemingly suggests that the mystic hero will find himself put through a physical and mental wringer -- particularly in his conflict with Ebony Maw. Cumberbatch himself has also hinted at the possibility of Strange's death, so we will have to keep an eye out for all of the pain that the character (and by extension, the actor) may go through as the next Marvel story unfolds.
Stephen Strange will make his next appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe later this month when Avengers: Infinity War debuts in theaters on April 27.
