Comic Book fans will remember during this summers Comic Con in San Diego that Sherlock and Star Trek: Into Darkness star Benedict Cumberbatch was very cautiously coy when frequently asked by press and fans alike if was in the running to portray Marvel superhero Doctor Strange in the hotly rumored forthcoming big screen adaptation. Before and since the SDCC many other names have been also associated with the role including the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Liam Neeson, Johnn Depp and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but it seems that the original choice for the role has come through for Marvel Studios with news from Deadline that Cumberbatch is indeed in final negotations with Marvel Studios to play the magical role.
Cumberbatch took Hollywood and the world by storm last year with his enigmatic and powerful performance as Starfleet terrorist John Harrison AKA Khan. With Marvel Studios preference for classically trained, high profile British actors it comes as no surprise that Cumberbatch will join the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany and Tim Roth as their next UK star.
Doctor Strange is one of Marvels more unusual superheroes, in that he is given his abilities (magical in nature, of course) of his own free will. A very talented yet obnoxious neurosurgeon, Stephen Vincent Strange shatters the bones in his hands in a car accident, and after searching for a cure turns to a mysterious hermit who turns out to be the Sorcerer Supreme, charged with protecting the Earth against mystical and magical threats. After thwarting the hermits students attempts to murder their master, the hermit AKA the ancient one, teaches Strange in the mystical arts, with the hermits former student Mordor consequently hating Strange and vowing revenge, becoming one of Stranges many antagonists.
Doctor Strange the movie, directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Jon Spaihts is set to begin production at Pinewood-Shepperton Studios in the UK, as Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theatres in May 2015, with its release date set at November 4th, 2016.
Update: While Cumberbatch maybe in final talks with Marvel for the role it seems reports that he has the role are as-of-yet unconfirmed, according to Marve Studios Kevin Feige.
