According to This Is Infamous, Marvel Studios has grown tired of dealing with Joaquin Phoenix, and has offered the role of Doctor Strange to Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, The Purge). Phoenix was reported for the role just before San Diego Comic-Con in July, and entered final negotiations in late August. However, he began to show signs of reluctance when it came to singing the dotted line, weary of a multi-picture deal with the studio and risking the loss of his creative freedom.
As great of an actor as Phoenix is, Marvel has a business to run and a film to make, so they can’t just wait forever for Phoenix to commit to the project. According to the new report, Hawke was offered the role on Friday, accepted it over the weekend, and has “progressed into contract talks, with a six-picture deal being what Marvel is hoping to lock him into.”
As always, make sure to take this news with a massive grain of salt until something official is reported. However, this makes quite a bit of sense considering the Phoenix dilemma Marvel has been facing. Hawke worked with director Scott Derrickson before on Sinister, and would actually be a pretty good fit for the role of Sorcerer Supreme. I personally never thought Phoenix would commit to the role, and felt that this sort of last-minute shakeup was just a matter of time.
What do you think of this news? Would Ethan Hawke be a good fit for Doctor Strange? Or are you still hoping that Joaquin Phoenix has landed the role? Sound off in the comments.
Doctor Strange hits theaters on July 8th, 2016.
Originally published October 1, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
