Feb. 10/17 Japan Times Interview

“I chose to become Doctor Strange because of him, not as much the plot,” Cumberbatch says. “These comics-derived pictures are often well done but the basic plots don’t vary much.”

In “Doctor Strange,” an accident results in the nerves of a neurosurgeon’s hands being destroyed, which ends his career. Speaking of the plot, Cumberbatch recalls a film with a similar premise.

“There was a completely unique 1930s horror picture out of Hollywood with German influence (“Mad Love,” 1935). When the character of Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange was described to me, I had deja-vu because in the film a musician loses the use of his hands after an accident — loses his hands, in fact, and therefore his career. The star was Peter Lorre. It’s unforgettable once you’ve seen it.”

“It’s as if every comic-book hero you ever and never heard of is getting their own movie,” he says. “And franchises? That’s a money trap abetted by studios who want constant and enormous streams of income. From a conscientious actor’s point of view, one has to be wary about the quality involved. The artistic vision has to be there … the filmmakers must have integrity, which you judge by their past record.

“I can’t say about the future. This type of commercial success is very heady. But it won’t turn my head. My home base remains Britain and my preference is films about people.”

Having said that, the actor also says this kind of genre is fun even if the filming wasn’t always easy because so much went into it.

“I think in life it’s best to keep an open mind and not choose ‘yes’ over ‘no’ — or vice versa,” he says. “Variety and moderation seldom fail you, and rather than speculating about the future or dwelling on the past, I prefer being mindful of the present. Whether working or at leisure, in private or in public, living in the now is more fulfilling.”