With reporting by Josh Horowitz

When fans want a casting rumor to be true, they'll make any connections necessary to support the theory. That's how Benedict Cumberbatch coming to San Diego Comic-Con for "Penguins of Madagascar" became a sideways confirmation that he's playing Doctor Strange, at least for the people who want him to be.

Not satisfied with speculation, when MTV spoke with Cumberbatch for his first ever Comic-Con interview to promote "Penguins of Madagascar," we also had to ask if there was any truth to the rumor that he would be Marvel's next Sorcerer Supreme.

From how Cumberbatch talks about the role, it sounds like it's a possibility, but one that won't likely come to pass.

"As far as I'm aware, even if that was the case, it couldn't work out because I'm doing a little play called 'Hamlet' in London," he said. "So I don't think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It's a shame if I miss out, but who knows?"

That sounds like the part wasn't out of the question for Cumberbatch, but he wouldn't go as far as to confirm any official discussion with Marvel to us.

"I couldn't possibly comment," he said.

So that's the word on that, at least for now. But it's not like Cumberbatch has had any other roles that he wasn't able to talk about freely.