After Captain America: Civil War drops on May 6th, Marvel is giving us a six month break until they deliver their second film of 2016, Doctor Strange. Due to hit theaters on November 4, 2016, we are super excited to see the debonair Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange. Here is everything we know about Marvel’s Doctor Strange thus far.
1. Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is kind of a tool until one life-changing event reshapes the course of his life.
Here’s your exclusive first look at Benedict Cumberbatch as the magical #DoctorStrange: https://t.co/PQs4LGDF6p pic.twitter.com/IqyyMmztlJ
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 29, 2015
When we’re first introduced to Dr. Strange, we’ll meet an egotistical surgeon who is obsessed with money and advancing his career. However, after a car accident shatters his hand, he is unable to continue on with his work. Too proud to shift his sights on a teaching job, Dr. Strange sets out to fix his hand by any means necessary. His travels lead him to a sorcerer called the Ancient One, who takes him under her wing, transforming him into a world protecting sorcerer.
2. Benedict Cumberbatch was Marvel’s first choice, but he almost didn’t snag the role.
Before Marvel confirmed that Cumberbatch would actually star in the title role, there were rumors that many other great actors would be wearing Doctor Strange’s red cape. Joaquin Phoenix, Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Ewan McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Oscar Isaac were all rumored to be in talks for the role. However, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly, that Cumberbatch “was someone that we were very interested in for a very long time,[But] he kept getting more and more popular!” Luckily, Marvel figured out the perfect timing with the English actor’s increasingly busy schedule, and got him locked in for the project.
3. Dr. Strange’s look isn’t too far off from the comics.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange has been around since the 1960s, and his look hasn’t changed much in the the past 50 years. Looking at Cumberbatch’s Strange, the blue tunic and red cape are still present. However, instead of being used as the clasp for the cape, the Eye of Agamotto is more like a necklace hanging from a chain around his neck. Also, his blue tunic typically has intricate drawings on it, but they are missing here. Finally, instead of the simple piece of fabric tied around his waist, there seems to be a series of belts in its place. Fans of Doctor Strange will probably be really pleased that much of the tradition of the character is still present in Cumberbatch’s costume. It’s simply been modified for the big screen and a 21st century audience.
4. What are Dr. Strange’s abilities exactly?
Be prepared for some “crazy s–t” in #DoctorStrange, Benedict Cumberbatch says: https://t.co/uInjNX2RF8 pic.twitter.com/8CBCQruCb7
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 29, 2015
Strange is a practicing magician who draws his powers from mystical entities. From the EW first look, we see Stephen Strange conjuring yellow mystical energy from his hands. His cape also enables him to fly and the Eye of Agamotto’s light is used to negate evil magic.
5. The film will be extremely dark.
The doctor is in! See 6 magical first look photos of #DoctorStrange: https://t.co/bfrgRETIyx pic.twitter.com/L1wP5tx46o
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 28, 2015
The film may be full of magic, however cinematographer Ben Davis has described Doctor Strange as “a very dark movie.”
6. Visually, Doctor Strange will be like nothing we’ve seen from Marvel thus far.
Here’s your exclusive first look at Benedict Cumberbatch in @Marvel‘s magical @DrStrange! https://t.co/3PYpoTv6Ds pic.twitter.com/PNGmN4KK5U
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 28, 2015
Cinematographer Ben Davis chatted with Screen Daily last summer about the film saying, “Most of the work within it is about other dimensions. And I described it, I think, when I was talking to Marvel as Marvel’s Fantasia, in a way, because it’s so sort of out there and different to everything else that they’ve done.” He also stated that it had a “a very psychedelic grounding.”
7. Deets on the rest of the cast.
ICYMI: #Hannibal‘s Mads Mikkelsen will play the main villain in @Marvel‘s #DoctorStrange: https://t.co/xcS3tB54Zn pic.twitter.com/JBLwPuB66x
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 28, 2015
Tilda Swinton will be starring as the Ancient One, Doctor Strange’s mentor. Though the Ancient One was male in the comic books, Marvel is super amazing for casting Swinton in the role. The Ancient One is a master of the mystic arts, with a vast knowledge of magical lore.
Rachel McAdams will be portraying an unnamed surgeon. Marvel President Kevin Feige stated that her character, “has a history with Strange and is his sort of lynchpin to his old life, once he steps into he role of a sorcerer. She is someone he connects with at the beginning, and reconnects with, and helps anchor his humanity.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor will be playing Baron Mordo. Traditionally Mordo is an enemy of Strange’s. In the comics, Baron Mordo has anger and jealousy toward Strange, and even launches an attack on the Ancient One – their mutual mentor. However, it looks like Ejiofor’s Baron Mordo will be a combination of several Doctor Strange characters.
Though his character is so far unnamed, Hannibal alum Mads Mikkelsen will be playing the main villain in Doctor Strange. Kevin Feige has said, “Mads’ character is a sorcerer who breaks off into his own sect. He believes that the Ancient One is just protecting her own power base and that the world may be better off if we were to allow some of these other things through.”
If we could guess, we’ll probably get a Doctor Strange trailer when Captain America: Civil War premieres. We’ll be sure to keep you updated.
