Doctor Strange Benedict Cumberbatch Improvised 1 of the Most Important Scenes in ‘Avengers: Endgame’
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange was essential during the Infinity Saga when it came to the Avengers defeating Thanos (Josh Brolin). His ability to see 14,000,605 futures and identify the one path to victory was key in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. One moment in the final Endgame battle scene between Doctor Strange and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) completely changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And according to director Scott Derrickson, it was improvised.
Marvel fans spotted a massive continuity error in ‘Avenger: Endgame’
Marvel fans recently noticed a massive continuity error regarding Doctor Strange in Avengers: Endgame. According to Heroic Hollywood, the error takes place when Doctor Strange is preparing for the final battle. Fans will remember that all of the sorcerers open up portals from throughout the universe to bring in allies to help the Avengers defeat Thanos.
When Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme asks Wong (Benedict Wong) if that’s all the allies they can find, he’s not wearing the Eye of Agamotto. Moments later when they cut to Doctor Strange in battle position – just before Captain America (Chris Evans) says, “Avengers…Assemble” – he’s wearing the Eye of Agamotto again.
It’s a blink and you’ll miss it moment, but it’s odd that it happened at all. Why would there even be a shot in the film where Doctor Strange wasn’t wearing the Eye of Agamotto? The item is his weapon of wisdom, and it’s why he was able to find the one and only way to defeat Thanos.
Doctor Strange was playing the long game when he gave Thanos the time stone
As Screen Rant notes, Doctor Strange made a huge gamble in Infinity War when he gave Thanos the time stone. Just moments earlier, he explained that out of the millions of possible timelines and outcomes, he saw only one single sequence of events that could result in victory.
He told Tony Stark that this was the only way they would have any chance to beat the Mad Titan. What he didn’t reveal was that it was just the first step in a seriously long game, and it would require the ultimate sacrifice from Iron Man.
Doctor Strange’s shocking decision to give Thanos the time stone resulted in “The Snap” and the disappearance of half of all life in the galaxy. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes also had to wait five years before they could make their next move.
A lot of factors had to fall in place – from Captain Marvel’s (Brie Larson) arrival to a rat freeing Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) from the Quantum Realm. But it was Tony’s decision to steal the stones instead of the gauntlet from Thanos that made all the difference.
Benedict Cumberbatch improvised an important moment between Doctor Strange and Tony Stark
As the final battle in Endgame raged on, Thanos was getting closer and closer to getting the heroes’ new homemade Infinity Gauntlet. Despite Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man all taking shots at Thanos, no one could take him out.
When it looked like Thanos was about to perpetrate another snap, Tony makes eye contact with Doctor Strange. At that moment, Strange simply raises his finger to let Tony know that it’s all up to him. This is when Tony goes for Thanos’ glove but takes the stones instead. By the time Thanos’ realizes what Tony has done, it’s too late.
Tony declares “I am Iron Man” and makes the Snap to erase Thanos and the Chitauri from existence. He then died on the battlefield. This came as no surprise to Strange, as he knew Tony was the only one who could wield the stones via his Iron Man suit.
The unexpected decision to take the stones instead of the glove was how the man who launched the MCU managed to save it. But according to Derrickson, the moment Strange lifted his finger to Tony to communicate that there was only one way it would work out was completely improvised.
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are available on Disney+.
