The elusive casting of Marvel’s Doctor Strange still rages. Scott Derickson (Sinister) was hired shortly after the film’s confirmation but the crucial position of the lead role in the superhero fantasy has passed through many hands. So far Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club, Panic Room), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Star Trek Into Darkness) and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road) have been named in connection until this summer when Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Her) began negotiations. Months later, Phoenix dropped out and the chase began once more.
Names such as Adrien Brody (The Pianist) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men) have been thrown up in speculation. Hardy and Cumberbatch seem unlikely but Leto is still a viable option. More recently there were rumours of Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) and Ethan Hawke (Before Sunset) being involved but a new report claims a host of actors are on a shortlist. Matthew MacConaughey (Interstellar, Mud, Dallas Buyers Club), Oscar Isaac (The Two Faces of January, Inside Llewyn Davis, Star Wars: Episode VII) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler, Source Code, Brokeback Mountain).
Most interestingly Ewan McGregor was also named. The Scot found fame in a Danny Boyle double bill of Shallow Grave and Trainspotting but seems to have been shying away from blockbuster roles since the subduing experience of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He’s since taken roles in The Impossible, Black Hawk Down, Moulin Rouge and Tim Burton’s truly loveable Big Fish. McGregor would be an excellent choice.
Warner Bros are following Marvel’s suit with a cinematic universe based upon the DC comic books. Following last year’s Man of Steel, the layout of their new set of films is at last being unveiled. As expected, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice rolls in March 25th 2016. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) gets a spin off in 2017 accompanied by Dwayne Johnson’s Shazam and the very first Justice League picture. Ezra Miller (The Perks of Being a Wall-Flower, We Need to Talk About Kevin) plays The Flash and Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) is Aquaman, both arriving in 2018. David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch) also helms The Suicide Squad, now confirmed as part of the line up. Ben Affleck’s The Batman and more Henry Cavill antics in Man of Steel will follow.
Doctor Strange – July 8th 2016
tuorhothmovies 