Though there has yet to be the usual big announcement by Marvel, hearing it from Rachel McAdams’ own mouth should surely be enough evidence. So after entering talks with the company, the actress will indeed star in **Doctor Strange **alongside Benedict Cumberbatch.
Quite which character she’ll be playing – whether it’s from the comic continuity or not – has yet to be revealed, since McAdams didn’t let on to The Wrap, probably for fear that armed mystical ninjas would burst into the interview room and silence everyone. There’s a chance she’ll be Clea, a student of Strange’s and someone who becomes both important to him and can manipulate the mystical realm almost as well as he can. Of course, even if she carries the same name, it’s possible that a lot will change about her on the journey to the screen.
But she’s just the latest piece of the puzzle, with director Scott Derrickson gathering the people he needs in front of the camera, including Cumberbatch in the title role, Tilda Swinton a great, if controversial choice to play his teacher in the mystic arts, the Ancient One, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as rival Baron Mordo. Mads Mikkelsen is also in talks to play a villain, so the cast is coming together.
In case you need a refresher on the basics, the film is using the character originally conjured by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Dr. Stephen Strange starts his story as a selfish New York surgeon who loses his professional skills in a car crash. After falling on hard times, he seeks out the Ancient One, and learns to tap into psychic and magical powers. In recognition of his selfless efforts to thwart evil fellow disciple Mordo, he’s taught the mystical arts and sets out to defeat other shady sorcerers and various villains.
Doctor Strange, written by Jon Spaihts, kicks off shooting later this year in the UK ready for an October 28, 2016 release.