‘Doctor Strange’: Benedict Cumberbatch Is In Demand And Marvel Studios Adjusted Schedule To Keep Him


The Doctor Strange movie is in the works, and Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch is quite the popular actor for hire these days. So popular that Marvel Studios had to rearrange their production schedule to be in sync with the ever in-demand Cumberbatch. There was a time the studio wasn’t sure they’d be able to bring on board the popular Hobbit actor, but they figured he was so perfect for the part they were able to work their production schedule around him, according to Cinema Blend.

During the transition when making this decision, Marvel Studios was considering Joaquin Phoenix for Doctor Strange, but according to Slash Film back in September of 2015, he turned down the role mainly because blockbuster movies aren’t his thing. He mentioned “flirting” with the idea and even going into talks with people, but never wound up going through with Doctor Strange.

“When I was younger I was probably a bit of a snob about [taking on blockbuster roles]. But they’ve gotten better. I’ve flirted with several of those films, having meetings and getting close, but ultimately it never felt like they’d really be fulfilling.”

The Doctor Strange production schedule was worked around Benedict and was able to partake in the filming after he was in London working on Hamlet.

According to Cinema Blend and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, it wasn’t the “star power” that demanded him to be added to the cast, but just was deemed appropriate for the role. A comparison was made with Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord character and director James Gunn had his reservations about the Parks and Recreation’s actor Chris Pratt for the Guardians of the Galaxy movie when his casting director Sarah Finn recommended him according to an interview with Gunn at Geek Nation.

“Sarah Finn, our casting director really deserves the credit for Chris in a lot of ways because she kept putting his picture in front of me and saying, ‘you know, what about this guy? Why don’t you meet with him?’ And I was like, ‘The chubby guy from Parks & Rec? (everyone laughs) You’re stupid!'”

So it seems with Doctor Strange and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe casting has it’s own method of operation when choosing actors.

Up to this point, Cumberbatch had already had his picture posing with “runecasting” hand gestures on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Cumberbatch talked about finger positioning, according to The Inquisitr. This is interesting, because the use of Strange’s hands was something he had in a previous occupation as a neurosurgeon and now after an accident where he lost use of his hands, according to Doctor Strange comic book lore, was healed and was given special powers.

Kevin Feige had spoken of Doctor Strange’s abilities and described specifically what the Sorcerer Supreme could do, but didn’t give it all away. For one is the Cloak of Levitation which obviously the ability is in the name and then there comes the power to manipulate time. This is where rumors came about, according to The Inquisitr, that quite possibly the green Infinity Stone, the Mind Stone, is thought to be contained in Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto as seen glowing on the front cover of Entertainment Weekly.

The movie actress Rachel McAdams who Feige recently has revealed in the Australia Network as her playing Strange’s fellow surgeon. Also, Mads Mikkelsen’s info has been revealed as playing the main villain as Feige has described as “a sorcerer who breaks off into his own sect”, according to Cinema Blend.

The Doctor Strange movie is directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Sinister cohort C. Robert Cargill and the movie is said to be released come Nov. 4.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment]

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