Benedict Cumberbatch Says the Tanks in World of Tanks Are No Match for Doctor Strange

The Holidays are approaching, and you cognize what that means: tanks. Lots and tons of tanks. And to observe the season, Wargaming conscionable revealed that nary different than Benedict Cumberbatch volition beryllium the authoritative Ambassador for the World of Tanks Holiday Ops 2026 event. You tin cheque retired an exclusive down the scenes look astatine the actor’s quality successful the crippled successful the subordinate above.

Cumberbatch sat down with IGN to dive into his information successful World of Tanks, interruption down his favourite video games arsenic a kid, and stock whether Doctor Strange would bushed Doctor Doom successful a fight.

“World of Tanks is astir arsenic bully arsenic it gets,” Cumberbatch says. “My quality successful the crippled does overmuch much than conscionable handing retired assignments. From the wintertime garage, helium shares bits of beingness (and) contented done stories that animate players to propulsion forward. There’s besides the peculiar Holiday Ops Challenge filled with implicit 50 conflict missions that assistance exclusive, customized rewards – including my relation arsenic a vessel commandant with my ain dependable successful the game.”

Cumberbatch follows successful a agelong enactment of celebrities who’ve participated successful World of Tanks Holiday Ops events including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Milla Jovovich, and Vinnie Jones. Cumberbatch says that his favourite vessel successful the crippled is the M24 Chaffee, but that each the artillery successful the crippled wouldn’t basal a accidental against 1 of his celebrated on-screen characters.

When we asked Cumberbatch who would triumph a face-off betwixt each azygous vessel successful World of Tanks combined and Doctor Strange, helium scoffed. “Doctor Strange. Come connected guys, of people it would beryllium the bully Doctor.”

Cumberbatch, who’s appeared successful games similar The Nightjar, Sherlock: The Network, LEGO The Hobbit, and Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, says video games were an indispensable portion of his childhood. “It each started with a small Nintendo Donkey Kong Jr.,” Cumberbatch says, “which I was obsessed with, and past Mario Brothers of course. I had an Atari console which I utilized to retrieve playing precise basal ping-pong with my dada and a alternatively scary extremity of days atomic onslaught crippled wherever you had to intercept intercontinental ballistic missile(s)! I retrieve however stiff the power sticks were but (they were) each precise fond memories and contempt the simplicity a large woody of fun.

“I had a SEGA Game Gear a small aboriginal on, but isolated from that present the console and gaming satellite benignant of near maine down with big life. At moments similar this I privation I could find immoderate clip to portion distant the hours either with a sprout ’em up oregon strategy-heavy game. Everything that happened (with World of Tanks) was a wholly caller acquisition for maine - engaging with the video gaming satellite and its originative broadside successful specified an aggravated way. It’s been fascinating, and I’m excited to spot however players volition person it.”

Cumberbatch, who’s known for his appearances successful the MCU, on-screen roles similar Sherlock and Smaug, and critically acclaimed turns successful films similar The Power of the Dog, August: Osage County, and The Imitation Game, says helium and the Wargaming squad recorded hundreds of dependable lines to springiness his quality extent and marque him “instantly recognizable.”

“Like each things gaming, (World of Tanks is) chaotic and clever and accelerated moving. Here I americium stepping into a wholly caller satellite and exploring a relation that’s some grounded successful a definite world that past dilatory swirls into magic realism and absurdity via immoderate large comedic beats.

“I’m the virtual commandant successful World of Tanks, but successful the guise of a highly inappropriate therapist. I’m guiding players done the battlefield with a dependable hand. My quality is eccentric and high-energy but besides the embodiment of calmness. He is simply a tactician and strategist who knows that existent spot lies successful composure and clarity of thought.”

Beyond World of Tanks, fans are anxious to cognize if Cumberbatch volition look arsenic Doctor Strange successful adjacent year’s Avengers: Doomsday. While he’s tightlipped connected that possibility, Cumberbatch does person an sentiment arsenic to who's the eventual Doctor successful the MCU. When we asked him who would triumph successful a combat - Dr Strange oregon Doctor Doom - helium didn’t mince words.

“I anticipation Dr Strange!”

The World of Tanks Holiday Ops 2026 lawsuit kicks disconnected connected December 5, 2025, and continues done January 12, 2026.

Michael Peyton is the Senior Editorial Director of Events & Entertainment astatine IGN, starring amusement contented and sum of tentpole events including IGN Live, San Diego Comic Con, gamescom, and IGN Fan Fest. He's spent 20 years moving successful the games and amusement industry, and his adventures person taken him everyplace from the Oscars to Japan to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Follow him connected Bluesky @MichaelPeyton