Exclusive: Del Toro To Make Dr Strange? Plus, the director talks The Hobbit
Guillermo Del Toro is directing pretty much every film coming out between now and 2017. We sat down with him recently to talk through all the potential projects on his slate, including The Hobbit, At The Mountains of Madness and 3993 (to read about all those projects click here). He also told us that he's flirting with the possibility of bringing another comic book hero to the screen, in the shape of Marvel's Dr Strange.
Less well known than the likes of Hulk and Iron Man, Dr Strange is a Sorcerer Supreme, who does battle with evil magicians and supernatural foes, while wearing a very silly outfit. He's got a strange, sinister air that would be right up Del Toro's street.
"I talked with Neil Gaiman [about writing it]," he tells us. "I said, that’s an interesting character because you can definitely make him more in the pulpy occult detective/magician mould and formula than was done in the Weird Tales, for example...the idea of a character that really dabbles in the occult in a way that’s not X-Filey, where the supernatural is taken for granted. That’s interesting...But I wouldn't use the suit!"
Comic book geeks will remember, of course, that Dr Strange played quite an important role in Gaiman's Elizabethan twist on the Marvel universe, 1602, making him a good choice of screenwriter for this. Of course, the Hellboy 2 director has a ton of projects on his dance card before he can think about getting to this.
To read his thoughts on The Hobbit, Frankenstein and more, read our exclusive interview here.
To see the first instalment of our exclusive video set visit to Hellboy II, click here.
Excellent that that this film will be made!!!
Though I can't help always thinking of Dr Orpheus from The Venture Brothers now, every time I see Dr Strange. If you don't know the character, look him up or watch that show. Brilliant!!! ... Read More
I would love to see this. Dr Strange would be quite different to all your recent OTT comic book blockbusters. (which I still love). Imagine some thing dark and slightly sinister like Pans labyrinth but with some kick ass hellboy style action. Excuse me while I change my pants! ... Read More
I'm really happy that he's gonna direct The Hobbit..If P.Jackson is not gonna direct, I only got 2 guys in my mind, him or George Lucas..On the other hand, I think he will do well inDr. Strange..Blade 2 and Hellboy rock big time so this will be no problem.. ... Read More
Empire should have a weekly Del Toro update page. I think from a bussiness sense if he made the Hobbit there would be a lot more leeway to do other projets. Dr Strange isn't something I think he would undertake after doing Hellboy... ... Read More
By complete coincidence I have just finished (30mins ago) re-watching Jonathan Ross's 'In search of Steve Kitko' which features both Dr Strange and Neil Gaiman who is clearly a huge fan, so he would make a very good choice to write. Del Toro woulds certainly be one obvious choice to direct. ... Read More
I have mixed feelings about this. I am a big fan of a little movie called Doctor Mordrid that was originally based on Dr Strange before they lost the rights. It's by no means a great movie but I am very partial to it. I think Del Toro is a brilliant director and could really show a different, darker side to the character that does appeal to me though. Meanwhile, bring on Mountains of Madness! :) ... Read More
Interesting choice. Not sure though. I would prefere Brosnan from the two Irish Seraphim stars. But are they too old? For the origin he needs to be closer to late 30's / early 40's, i'm thinkin. ... Read More
Dr.Strange is a curiosity and something very different to your average superhero and potentially
very intriguing. Liam Neeson maybe as the Doc? ... Read More
Yeah, but you've gotta admit, he get 'em done. The guys like a barmy talented movie assembly line (bare in mind he writes them and does the production design too). He moves from one straight to the next. Theres nothing wrong with lining up your projects. I thought he wasn't doing a Harry Potter flick cause his mate did instead. ... Read More
