Has Marvel finally found its Master of the Mystic Arts? According to this report from Latino Review, the answer just might be “yes.” Evidently, Johnny Depp recently took a meeting with Marvel “to discuss taking on the role of Dr. Strange,” a character who has long been a favorite of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and has been rumored to be a lock for Phase III. Given Depp’s eclectic taste in characters, his excellent relationship with Disney (Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean) and Marvel’s penchant for casting A-listers, it seems like a match made in heaven (or at least the astral plane).

Still, at the moment, this is nothing more than a rumor. Latino Review has had a decent track record with Marvel movie scoops — they were the first to announce that Marvel was developing a Guardians of the Galaxy film — but they’ve had their share of misses as well –like their reveal that Black Panther would follow Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which as we all know didn’t come to pass. Last summer they reported that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was Marvel’s top choice for Doctor Strange, based partially on the fact that the script called for a 30-year-old Stephen Strange. As we know now, JGL is going to be tackling an entirely different continuity for Warner Bros. and DC with the forthcoming Sandman flick. That being said, this rumor feels like it has more legs than most.

Let’s take a look at how this all might shake out. Depp has a terrific relationship with Disney, having made them billions of dollars at the box office with tentpoles like Pirates of the Caribbean and surprise hits like Alice in Wonderland. Currently, Depp is set to star in at least one more Pirates of the Caribbean film, but production was just delayed in order to fix the ailing script, so that production has slipped to 2016 at the earliest. There’s also an Alice sequel in development, which Depp is attached to, that could potentially affect momentum on Strange, which is rumored to be an early Phase III film for Marvel (coming out in 2016). Were Depp to don the flowing blue doublet and iconic red cape, it’s likely that Pirates would be pushed back even further, and Alice delayed as well. Considering Depp’s propensity for choosing eccentric, oddball characters and the fact that Doctor Strange dabbles in the mystic and the supernatural, it seems like a smart move by both parties.

Yet, as Latino Review wisely points out in its article, “This is Hollywood. Plans change. Offers expire. Negotiations stall. So while Depp has met with Marvel, and both sides want this to work, it doesn’t mean it well.” Furthermore, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Borys Kit, who also has a solid scoop record and runs their “Heat Vision” blog, tweeted this today:

According to Marvel, there are no meetings nor talks taking place between the co. and Depp and no talks for Doc Strange.

— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) January 14, 2014

So, go ahead and get excited for Johnny Depp as Doctor Strange, so long as you take it with a seriously giant grain of salt.

Do you like this potential casting or does it make you burn hotter than Dormammu’s face? Let us know in the comments below or tell me on Twitter.

HT: Latino Review