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Benedict Cumberbatch is swapping crime solving in London for magic in the Marvel universe. The 40-year-old British actor has made his comic book debut as surgeon-turned-superhero Doctor Strange. And, as he's now learned, being a Hollywood leading man in a seriously big budget movie isn't all glamour...
He's had to start hiding in New York cafés to get away from the paparazzi and his incredibly dedicated fans. And his image has suddenly been plastered all over Marvel lunchboxes.
This isn't an entirely new world for the 'Sherlock' star – his likeness has officially (and unofficially) been turned into colouring books, knitting patterns and stretchy lycra leggings – but it's the first time he's faced Marvel-scale merchandise.
'It is a strange thing,' he told Time Out. 'It's very odd to be recreated in merch-land.'
'But I knew this would be a bit of a lunchbox moment obviously because of past Marvel films. And Disney etc. It's part of it,' he adds.
Cumberbatch tried not to make the fact that his face was about to be immortalised in plastic affect him while he was filming: 'It's certainly not something that preoccupied me when I was making the film. I didn't think, 'Well, this look will end up being a mug or a t-shirt.'
'By and large if they are using my image for the character they ask my opinion, so I'm prepared. A little bit prepared. I sort of know what's coming, which makes it less of a shock.'
But still, it must be strange...
'Doctor Strange' is in UK cinemas now.
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