Benedict Cumberbatch was interview by Japan’s TVGroove at Tokio Comic Con, where he talked about Japan, his 2024, Doctor Strange, and meeting Mads Mikkelsen again. The interview is accompanied by a couple of photos of him, check them out on our photo gallery:
Read the full interview below, translated by Google:
Benedict Cumberbatch’s exclusive interview in Japan! “Sorry for the long answer,” he said as he talked about his love for Japan, Doctor Strange’s growth and struggles, and more [Photos included]
Tokyo Comic Convention 2024 (hereafter referred to as “Tokyo Comic Con 2024”), one of the world’s largest pop culture events, will be held from Friday, December 6th to Sunday, December 8th. Benedict Cumberbatch, who enjoys enduring popularity in Japan, visited Japan once again for this major event held at Makuhari Messe. This time, Cumberbatch gave tvgroove the opportunity to interview him and take photos and videos with him. (Interview and text by Yodasea)
Thank you for coming to Japan again! This is your second visit since last year. What do you like about Japan?
Benedict Cumberbatch: First of all, I only know Tokyo. So what I know about Japan and what I’ve been able to experience is limited. But Japanese culture, art, traditional performing arts like kabuki and tea ceremony, architecture, everything is so majestic, detailed, and original, so it’s really amazing. The history, geography, and urban functions are also interesting. And above all, the people are so smart and thoughtful. Cumberbatch: Japan is so far from my country that it’s a big job just to get here, but it’s such a wonderful place to visit. Whether I’m on a plane, at the airport, in the car, in the hotel, in the restaurant, or even now when I’m doing interviews like this, or promoting at Comic-Con, Japan always makes me feel safe and secure and like I’m a part of the place. It’s really hard because I have to go home right away when I come for work. I really want to extend my stay, but it’s almost the holiday season and my kids are on winter break, so I have to go home to see my family. I’d love to take my family to Japan one day and stay there for a long time. There are so many places I’d like to visit in the south, like Kyoto, Okinawa, Mt. Fuji, and national parks! Cumberbatch: Sorry that’s a long answer. The short answer to that question is “all of them”! (laughs)
Last year, you spoke on stage at Tokyo Comic Con 2023, saying, “Don’t try to be someone else” and “Don’t be afraid of failure,” which received a huge response and encouraged many people on social media. A year has passed since then, and Benedict has recently expanded the scope of his work, including the streaming drama “Eric” and working with director Wes Anderson. What kind of year has 2024 been for you?
Cumberbatch: It’s great that “Henry Sugar” (with director Wes Anderson) won an Oscar (for best live-action short film). I’m in his new film (reportedly called “The Phoenician Scheme”), which is also a great, striking film. We shot it outside Berlin, and it was a great experience with a great studio. Speaking of other projects, I shot “The Thing with Feathers” in January this year, which should be great. It’s based on a great novel by Max Porter (“Grief is the Thing with Feathers”), and it’s a wonderful, honest human drama about a man who loses his wife and lives with his two sons. I can’t wait for people to see it. I’m co-starring with Olivia Colman in “The Roses,” which is also great. Cumberbatch: And about what I told you guys last year, it’s a philosophy that I still hold dear. It’s important to keep a sense of challenge. It’s important to do your best at what you can do without pretending to be someone else. You don’t have to try to be more than you are, just respect what you have.
There should be a lot of Doctor Strange fans here this time too. I think we can see changes in Strange, both as a hero and as a person, from his first appearance to the latest film. What are your thoughts on the character of Doctor Strange and his changes and growth that you have played in multiple films?
Cumberbatch: That’s a good question. He’s certainly changing. At the same time, he’s still dealing with the same issues. The question of what the power he has is at the expense of. His powers aren’t given to him by some special spider or nanotechnology, but by some extremely dangerous demon or god or other dimension. Cumberbatch: As a person, I think he’s growing. I think he’s still learning to act for others, to work in a team, to trust others. He’s a very complex and interesting character. He started out as a very arrogant character, doing godly things as a genius neurosurgeon, and now he’s doing godly things as a magician. He’s growing, but he still has a lot of psychological issues that he’s still trying to work through.
Mads Mikkelsen, who played Kaecilius in “Doctor Strange,” has come to Japan with us for this Tokyo Comic Con. Did you have any interaction with him?
Cumberbatch: Yes, I was able to talk to Mads a little bit! It’s always fun to interact with him. But this time, it was announced that Josh Brolin, a great actor, would also be coming. I’m sad that he couldn’t come. (The celebrities coming to Japan) all fly in from different countries, and they’re jet-lagged and tired, so it’s hard to have a chance to interact with everyone, but when I came to Japan last year, I was able to go to a really delicious teriyaki restaurant with Tom Hiddleston. I had a lot of fun spending time with him.
The American comic fans who are here this time must be excited about the future of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Do you have anything to say to the MCU fans who are looking forward to the future?
Cumberbatch: I’m really excited not only to work with the Russo brothers again, but also to have Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. I think there’s going to be some really cool developments ahead, and I’m excited to see what happens next.
Message from the Comic-Con venue
Finally, Cumberbatch left a video message for the fans who came to Tokyo Comic Con and for his Japanese fans.
来日した #ベネディクト・カンバーバッチ 様より日本のファンの皆さんへメッセージをいただきました✨✨✨
— tvgroove｜海外エンタメメディア (@TVGroove) December 8, 2024
独占インタビュー記事も後ほど公開予定です！#東京コミコン2024 大盛況！来日ありがとうございました❤️🔥❤️🔥#東京コミコン #TokyoComicCon #BenedictCumberbatch pic.twitter.com/sJxLxN8jzI
Benedict Cumberbatch conveys his love and sincerity to the Japanese people. We look forward to the day he visits Japan again. (Interview and text by Yodasea)
