Benedict Cumberbatch Is Marvel's Pick for 'Doctor Strange'

After months of speculation that had everyone from Johnny Depp to Joaquin Phoenix in the running, Marvel has finally revealed their choice for the lead in the long-awaited big screen version of Doctor Strange.

However, Cumberbatch hasn't officially accepted the role just yet, as negotiations are reportedly set to begin soon. But it's generally believed that this is a done deal, and Cumberbatch will take over the coveted role.

Cumberbatch is on a roll as of late, between winning an Emmy for his role on Sherlock this year, and gaining considerable Oscar buzz for The Imitation Game, the Alan Turing biopic set to hit theaters on November 21.

Doctor Strange, due for release on July 8th, 2016, will be directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) from a script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus). The movie will tell the tale of Marvel's infamous neurosurgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme who defends Earth from dark forces. As expected, Marvel’s Kevin Feige will produce.

While the casting is not yet official, I can only hope Cumberbatch follows through. He's a wonderful choice for the role, and it could be the role that allows him to break even further into the mainstream, more so than Sherlock. The notion of having him as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an exhilarating one, particularly if he ends up crossing over into other Marvel movies. Of course, this might end up being a setback for a new season of Sherlock, depending on how the schedules work out, but this has plenty of potential to be a worthwhile trade-off, both for Cumberbatch and his fans.

Via: Deadline

Credit: BBC One