Filming for Marvel Studios’ long-awaited Doctor Strange film is well underway, starring Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular Doctor, and directed by Sinister’s Scott Derrickson. Although much of the movie is going to be shot on soundstages in London, production is actually kicking off right now in Kathmandu, Nepal.
It’s from the Nepal shoot that a few new photos of Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange have turned up online, thanks to some fans who were lucky enough to wander close to the production. In the new pics, you can see Cumberbatch sporting a very full and manly beard, seemingly wandering the streets, and looking quite a bit disheveled.
Benedict Cumberbatch filming #DoctorStrange in Nepal https://t.co/uK0Qh9NfJH pic.twitter.com/6cou5Hagkb
— Cumberbatchweb (@cumberbatchweb) November 5, 2015
Its a fab pic & defo Cumberbatch doctor strange filming in new road #Kathmandu #nepal, recognised everywhere he goes pic.twitter.com/kenXTaRHOc — Anything Cumberbatch (@Anythingbatch) November 5, 2015
Since this movie is a Doctor Strange origin tale, it’s pretty clear what these pics represent in terms of the story. In the original 1962 Stan Lee/Steve Ditko origin story, Stephen Strange is an arrogant but brilliant surgeon who loses the use of his hands in a car accident. He then becomes something of a despondent hot mess, hence the hobo beard and ratty clothes (although by modern standards, the hobo beard and ratty clothes would just make him a hipster, but I digress).
His journey eventually takes him to Nepal where he seeks out the wisdom of the Ancient One, a mystic he hopes will help him restore the use of his hands. The Ancient One, played in the film by Tilda Swinton, restores his hands, but also ends up training Strange into how to become the Sorcerer Supreme.
Awww the crew have lil Doctor Strange hats! #spoilers pic.twitter.com/Jwl0sPfbzP
— Cumberbuddy (@Cumberbuddy) November 5, 2015
With filming just now getting underway, it’s going to be awhile before we see a trailer or anything more official from Marvel Studios in regards to this movie. So for now, these set photos are going to have to be enough to satisfy you die-hard Cumberfans out there.
Doctor Strange also stars Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Stuhlbarg, and is scheduled for release on November 4, 2016.
—
HT: Cumberbuddy, Anything Cumberbatch, and Cumberbatchweb via Collider
IMAGE: Marvel Comics
Curious about Baron Mordo? Here’s Doctor Strange’s nemesis explained.
