Hot on the heels of last week’s announcement that Deliver Us from Evil director Scott Derrickson will helm the big-screen debut of Marvel Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, comes news (via Deadline) that Prometheus screenwriter Jon Spaihts is in negotiations to script the film. This will no doubt receive a mixed reaction from fans, since many would agree that Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Alien follow-up suffered from a less than perfect story. But I’m not sure how much of that can be attributed to Spaihts, seeing as how he only wrote the film’s early draft, which was then rewritten by Damon Lindelof (incorporating some elements that a few executives no doubt insisted upon). And Spaihts work is regarded highly enough to nab him the job of scripting both Universal’s The Mummy reboot and Disney’s The Black Hole remake.

The way I see it, the biggest obstacle to overcome in writing Doctor Strange may be the hero’s similarity to Iron Man. While Stephen Strange’s powers are based in magic rather than technology, he shares an origin story similar to that of Tony Stark, since he too was an arrogant, callous professional — in this case a physician — who learned humility and became a protector of the innocent; at least in his original Stan Lee-and-Steve Ditko incarnation, which Derrickson reportedly loves. (Plus, Strange and Stark both sport mustaches.) In any case, Marvel is apparently considering Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Jared Leto for the lead role. Put me on Team Cumberbatch!

What do you think of Spaihts for Strange? Let us know in the comments below.