by Justin Cook
After much speculation, it appears that Star Trek Into Darkness and Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch is in final negotiations to play Doctor Strange in Marvel’s upcoming 2016 film.
For a while now, Cumberbatch has been rumored for the role of Stephen Strange, but after reports suggested that the role would go to Joaquin Phoenix, many considered him to be out of the running. But as we know, the Joaquin Phoenix deal eventually went south, and Cumberbatch became the frontrunner again.
Cumberbatch has a large amount of fans, especially on online platforms, and has proven himself as a great actor in recent years.
In the world of Marvel Comics, Doctor Strange is a very unique and important character. Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme in the comics, meaning that he protects Earth from magical forces trying to destroy it. He is described as having an inflated ego and being very intelligent, not unlike a Tony Stark of sorts.
Doctor Strange is expected to come out on July 8, 2016. Scott Derrickson, director of horror films such as Sinister and Devil Us from Evil, will helm the project.
It will be the third movie released as part of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following Ant-Man and Captain America 3. The studio has certainly been on a roll recently with their last film, Guardians of the Galaxy, far exceeding expectations (not only critically but at the box office as well), and Captain America: The Winter Soldier proving to be a more than worthy sequel to the original.
Later this year, Cumberbatch will be starring in The Imitation Game, in which his performance has received much acclaim, and voicing characters in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and The Penguins of Madagascar.
Even after that, Cumberbatch will be appearing in Jungle Book: Origins and numerous other films, so needless to say he will be very busy in years to come.
Source: Deadline
