We may not yet know who will be playing the Sorcerer Supreme himself – Joaquin Phoenix and Jack Huston are among those who have been rumoured – but we do know when Marvel’s Doctor Strange will be arriving on the big screen, with Screen International reporting a July 8, 2016 release date{
Scott Derrickson is set to direct the film, working from a script that has seen work by Jon Spaihts, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer.
Doctor Strange was originally conjured from the brains of Stan Lee and art genius Steve Ditko, and began life 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 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.
Whoever ends up playing the man himself will be headed to the UK. As it did with Guardians Of The Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World and chunks of Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Marvel is planning to make the film here in Blighty, at Pinewood-Shepperton, to be exact.
No confirmation was offered on exactly when shooting will kick off, but given that release date, late this year or early 2015 seems likely. Presumably once they lock in their chosen Doctor. Perhaps they could try NHS Direct?