And so it came to pass that Benedict Cumberbatch turned the page of the special Panini sticker album he must surely use to keep track of the geeky properties in which he appears and put in a giant picture of Doctor Strange on the Marvel page. The comic book studio has found its cinematic Sorcerer Supreme.
He was the latest actor to be rumoured as Stephen Strange back in October, and the reactions ran the predictable gamut from high praise to the declaration of the apocalypse.
Sinister’s Scott Derrickson is calling the shots on this one, working from a script by Jon Spaihts. They will bring to life the character originally conjured by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. He starts his story as a selfish New York surgeon who loses his professional skills in a car crash. After falling on hard times, he visits a healer in the Himalayas known as The Ancient One, and learns to tap into psychic and magical powers. In recognition of his selfless efforts to thwart evil fellow disciple Baron Mordo, he’s taught the mystical arts and sets out to defeat other shady sorcerers and various villains.
“Stephen Strange’s story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity,” said producer Kevin Feige in a statement from the company. “In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character.”
There’s a chance he could – like Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War – be introduced before his solo film, especially since Avengers: Age Of Ultron is due for some additional shooting next month. But if he doesn’t score a cameo or an end credits sting there or elsewhere, Doctor Strange will appear on our screens on July 18, 2016.