by Justin Cook
Marvel Studios has officially announced that Sherlock and Star Trek Into Darkness actor Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing comic book character Doctor Strange in the 2016 solo film.
Cumberbatch has been long-rumored for the role, and became a strong contender after actor Joaquin Phoenix turned it down.
For months, rumors have been flying around about who would play the popular Marvel superhero. The range of actors tied to the role of Doctor Strange at one point or another include everyone from Johnny Depp to Jared Leto to Ewan McGregor to Pedro Pascal.
The film will be a part of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The always-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe will have nine films in Phase Three, being the most out of any phase so far.
Scott Derrickson, director of Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Deliver Us from Evil, will helm the film with a script written by Jon Spaihts.
Giving strong performances in movies and TV shows such as 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, War Horse, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Sherlock, Cumberbatch has proven himself as one of the best actors working today.
The actor currently is receiving Oscar buzz for his performance as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Later this month, Cumberbatch can be seen in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies reprising his role as the dragon named Smaug.
He has many other projects lined up for years to come including Black Mass in 2015 and Jungle Book: Origins in 2016.
Doctor Strange is set for a November 4, 2016 release.
Source: Marvel Studios
