Benedict Cumberbatch Shares High Praise for Spider-Man: No Way Home's 'Genius' Director Jon Watts

As December rapidly approaches, Marvel Studios is gearing up to release one of its most-talked-about projects in recent history: Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The Tom Holland-led threequel will star the now-familiar Spider-Man cast alongside none other than the MCU's Sorcerer Supreme: Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. After having helped save the world with Peter Parker in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, it looks as though Strange is willing to lend a hand to help solve Peter's identity crisis.

Nonetheless, this is the third time Cumberbatch and Holland have gotten to work together in the MCU but the first time the former has been under the wing of director Jon Watts. Watts previously helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home and will bring Marvel's First Family home in the in-the-works Fantastic Four. 

Having worked alongside many Marvel Studios directors, actors and actresses, and other personnel, Cumberbatch has now given his praises to Watts as No Way Home prepares to be seen worldwide. 

Doctor Strange Approves of MCU Spider-Man Director

Marvel

During an interview with Variety, Spider-Man: No Way Home star Benedict Cumberbatch praised director Jon Watts, citing him as a "genius:"

"It's gonna be a great film, I think. I think Jon Watts is a genius, all that team was on those three films are vastly brilliant."

Cumberbatch went on to mention how Watts is "very witty, but incredibly generous and supportive," saying that No Way Home was an enjoyable set to be on:

"Jon [Watts] is great, he's got such a light touch, he's so assured though. He's great to hang out with on set.  [...]  He's very witty, but incredibly generous and supportive. Everything you want in a director. He's young, he's energetic, he gets the kids - I call myself an 'older person' to the older people [...] It's an atmosphere on that set. It's a bonded group, they've done three [movies] now, beautiful work environment. I really really enjoyed being on that set, I really did."

Future Cumberbatch and Jon Watts Collaborations Incoming?

Cumberbatch and Watts are both MCU veterans in their own rights; Cumberbatch made Doctor Strange a household name and one of the most prominent players moving forward into Phase 4 of the MCU while Watts ushered in a new Spider-Man era.

Knowing that these two got along well on the set of what could be a universe-shattering movie is nothing short of a good sign; the mention of Watts being "energetic" only adds to that notion.

It's also heartwarming that Cumberbatch noted how tight-knit the Spider-Man crew is. As he said, the cast has done three movies together to date, and being able to create "a beautiful work environment" as a result will more than likely be felt on screen by audiences.

All of this being said, could further work between Cumberbatch and Watts be on the horizon? It's not too far-fetched to imagine Doctor Strange in the Fantastic Four space, nor is it out of the realm of possibility that Watts could be brought on to other MCU projects down the line at the pace he's going.

Nonetheless, fans will soon see what Cumberbatch has deemed as "a great film" in almost no time at all. Beyond that? Maybe someone should ask Strange about those 14-or-so million outcomes he saw in Infinity War.

Spider-Man: No Way Home debuts in theaters on December 17, 2021, while Cumberbatch will lead in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premieres on March 25, 2022.