Although Marvel Studios is yet to officially confirm Doctor Strange as part of its Phase Three line-up, the project appears to be moving forward at pace following the appointment of director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) earlier this month. According to Deadline, screenwriter Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) is in talks to rewrite the script from Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (the site also confirms that Jared Leto is on the shortlist for the role of Dr. Stephen Strange alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy), while Derrickson has opened up about his involvement with the film during an interview with Joblo:
“I think when you consider the work that I’ve done it makes sense that he’d be my favorite comic book character, at least in the Marvel universe. Probably the only comic character in that mainstream world that I’m suited to. I feel such an affinity for the character and the story and the ambition of those comics, especially the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko “Strange Tales” – I think those are my favorite of all of them. The entire history of the comics is extraordinary. I wanted it really bad. More than any other project that I’ve gone after, I felt compelled to do everything in my power to get on that project. Genuinely felt like I was the right guy to do it.”
Derrickson also spoke about fan reaction to his appointment, stating that: “I think the nicest surprise for me, the most unexpected surprise, is the positive reaction. Both to me getting the film – I guess I expected the detractors, and they just haven’t been there, it’s all been quite positive. More than that, it’s just the general enthusiasm for Doctor Strange. I think people who know the comic world and the Marvel universe, they all feel the same way I do, which is, ‘This is the Marvel movie we’re all ready to see now.’ This movie needs to exist. The outpouring of excitement that people have shown is the thing I’ve been most pleasantly surprised.”
Expect an official announcement on Doctor Strange at Comic-Con, and plenty of rumours and speculation in the meantime…
Originally published June 19, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
