Worried that Marvel won’t keep it weird with their recently-confirmed Dr. Strange movie? If this weekend proved anything, it was that the studio isn’t shy about poking at some of the out-of-the-way corners of their comic universe for the screen, and Dr. Strange may be no exception, according to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Feige teased plans for an origin story that would take viewers across different dimensions like a Ditko-inspired acid trip. The longer quote from the studio boss calls Dr. Strange a “classic Marvel origin story,” one where they’ll be calling on director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) and writer Jon Spaights (Prometheus) to play with viewers’ perception of reality.
For the uninitiated, Dr. Stephen Strange is a brilliant yet cocky surgeon who damages the bones in his hand during a car accident, ending his medical career. After running through all of his money seeking a cure through traditional medicine, he journeys deep into the Himalayas, he stumbles upon the Ancient One, a mystical being who takes Strange under his wing and coaches him in the secrets of the magical realm.
Up to this point, magic has only been teased in the MCU, with even ostensibly supernatural elements like ancient space gods being presented as hyper-evolved science. Between the introduction of Scarlet Witch in next year’s Age of Ultron and a film based on Dr. Strange, Marvel is attempting to work the concepts of magic into their universe. According to Feige, it’s Dr. Strange’s medical background that will allow the film and character to ground all of the magic stuff in some kind of reality.
The comments about keeping it weird and Ditko-esque have me very encouraged – I think the going logic is that magic is a hard sell in pop culture (*cough* Harry Potter) and that it’s necessary to keep it as serious or grounded as possible or you’ll risk losing the audience. It’s great that Marvel is embracing the strangeness of Dr. Strange, and hopefully, they won’t rely on the tired “urban fantasy/urban magic” aesthetic that’s been the go-to for comics and film for the last 15 years or so.
In the meantime, we’re still waiting on news of who will play Dr. Strange as well as a release date for the film.
Who would you like to see play Dr. Strange? Let us know in the comments below.
[HT: Screen Rant]
Oded Fehr needs to play this character
Richard Armitage?
Benedict Cumberbatch, Joaquin Phoenix, Johnny Depp in that order.
I’m hoping Jared Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars si the doctor.
Jim Caviezel
Leonardo DiCaprio FTW!
Leonardo DiCaprio was born to play Dr. Strange.
what would be wrong with chris hardwick?
Gary Oldman
MR. T would be great as strange 😛
Ed Quinn would be great. Definitely has the egotistical ass bag part down. And clearly looks the part.Also, another that would draw in some swooners.
Matt Bomer
Ben winshaw
Adrian Brody!!!!!!
Adrian Brody looks just like Ditko drew him!
Ewan McGregor would be perfect for this role!
Ewan McGregor would be absolutely astounding as doctor strange!
Resurrect Vincent Price. That would be perfect.
Jake Gyllenhaal
Pedro Pascal has the looks,the charm and the talent to play Dr Strange
Pedro Pascal
I vote Pedro Pascal!
Doc Hammer!
James Franco he is already look like dr stranger
Zach Braff in The Worlds Most Giant Doctor Strange
Viggo; Brody and David Tennant are all great ideas. How about Adrian Pasdar (yep… I know he played Glenn Talbot on AoS, but Evans was both Storm AND Rogers; and the ‘look’ is very different.Meanwhile when do we get Black Panther and Powerman & Iron Fist?
Well, Storm and Rogers exist in two different realities moviewise. One in Fox and one in the MCU. Hopefully, that will be remedied after Fox loses their shirt on the next FF film.
Kevin Ryan.
Jeffrey Donavan. The guy has range, os pretty trim, and should bring the ladies in with their nerdy husbands to see the film. We’re formulating a blockbuster after all!
I’m surprised no one has said Richard Armitage. I think he’d be awesome in the role. He’s proven that he has the presence and authority necessary to play the Sorcerer Supreme, as well as the willingness to sign multi-picture deals. And he’s a pretty bad ass too, if you ever saw MI-5.
Paul F. Thompkins
Idris Elba.
Sarcastic choice or not, that would be the end of me watching Marvel films. Farrell sucks.
To old
No,he has the right age,Dr Strange is a middle aged man,not a 30 year old Gary Stu
Yes please
I have to agree with that. British actors are great for these roles too.