Chiwetel Ejiofor ‘in talks’ to play a major role in Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange’: yay?!

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When we were covering the Sony Hack drama last month, I ended up skipping over a lot of the leaked emails about the newest (and currently filming) James Bond film, Spectre. The whole thing was a giant clusterwhoops and it’s probably going to be one of the most expensive films ever made. What makes the inflated $300 million budget even worse is that it sounds like no one is really happy with the script. What could wrong? But there was one little piece of news that fascinated me: producers were looking hard at Chiwetel Ejiofor to play a somewhat major character in Spectre, but they ended up hiring Andrew Scott (Moriarity in Sherlock) for the role because Scott was cheaper. I’m guessing Chiwetel’s management felt they were in a stronger position to ask for a good paycheck because Chiwetel was Oscar-nominated for 12 Years a Slave. That $1 million would have been a drop in the bucket for the film budget, and while I’m a fan of both actors, it would have been amazing to see Chiwetel in a James Bond film.

So, now that Chiwetel is without a franchise, perhaps he can join the Marvel universe? That’s the rumor going around! And this casting could see Chiwetel reunited with a 12 Years a Slave costar… Benedict Cumberbatch!! (Sidenote: I disliked Bendy in 12 Years because his Cumbercurls were distracting from the story.) Yes, Chiwetel is in talks to play a major role in Doctor Strange!

Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor could join his first comic book movie. The actor is being courted by Marvel to take on an unspecified role in the company’s Doctor Strange, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, and could join Benedict Cumberbatch, who is starring as the surgeon turned sorcerer supreme Stephen Strange, aka Doctor Strange.

Talks are said to be in the early stages, and Marvel had no comment. Character and plot details are being kept hidden from the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto.

Several sources have intoned that Ejiofor is wanted for a villainous role, but some insiders have pooh-poohed that. The villain is likely to be classic bad guy Baron Mordo, a sorcerer’s pupil whose next-in-line status is usurped by Strange, thus making him the physician’s mortal enemy.

If Marvel feels like mixing up ethnicities, a possible role could be that of Wong, the monk servant to Strange who is adept in martial arts. Another possibility is the role of the Ancient One, a semi-immortal mystic who mentors Strange and is the sorcerer supreme of this dimension.

Scott Derrickson is directing the movie, which is in the early stages of casting and will shoot after Captain America: Civil War, according to sources. Strange has a release date of Nov. 4, 2016. Ejiofor was reportedly due to play a villain in the new James Bond movie, Spectre, but talks never reached the dealmaking phase.

Ejiofor, who was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his performance in 12 Years a Slave, already has notched a number of villainous roles on this thespian sash, notably in Joss Whedon’s Serenity and Children of Men. He is currently shooting The Martian for Ridley Scott and stars in Z for Zachariah, which will premiere later this month at the Sundance Film Festival.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

I really, really hope that Chiwetel is not going to play Doctor Strange’s “monk servant.” Because NOOOO. If you’re going to hire Chiwetel, it should be for a badass character. If it’s the villain, then so be it. Anyway, I’m happy that Marvel is looking at Chiwetel and I do hope he joins the Marvel universe. I think he would do well there.

Bendy’s a big fan of Chiwetel too – it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Bendy had recommended Chiwetel for a part in the film.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.

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27 Responses to “Chiwetel Ejiofor ‘in talks’ to play a major role in Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange’: yay?!”

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  1. icerose says:

    I would rather he was not the villain or the monk servant. I would rather not see him in Dr Strange as it is not on my films to list and really do not want to put it on. Still he is at the National Theatre this year and I am not going to miss that if I can help it.He has an amazing stage presence.

    • V4Real says:

      At first I wanted him for Black Panther because he had already worked with Joss Whedon on Serenity. But Chadwick Boseman is now a logical choice.

    • Lizzy says:

      Aaaak. He is at the NT this year? Which play?? *must go google*

      Cant wait to see Man&Superman with Ralph Finnes in March.

  2. Sixer says:

    If he didn’t do 007 for a $1m shortfall, why would he go to notoriously stingy Marvel?

    Makes no bones to this studious Marvel-avoider, however!

    • Loopy says:

      why are they stingy?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Marvel is notoriously stingy, both in what they pay actors (RDJ is the only one making major money off his Marvel contract) and in the perks. When they travel for PR purposes to premiers and interviews, Marvel won’t pay to take a significant other, while other studios do. That’s just one area.

      • V4Real says:

        Yes Marvel is stingy. That’s why I was glad RDJ’S team was smart to acquire those back-end deals. I read and heard that RDJ also fought to get the other guys a higher salary. I think their contracts have now been renegotiated, though no one is saying for how much more.

      • moodgirl says:

        “When they travel for PR purposes to premiers and interviews, Marvel won’t pay to take a significant other, while other studios do. That’s just one area.”

        Maybe this is why Benedict lobbied hard for the part?

    • Sixer says:

      They are well known for low (in movie terms) pay. Just have a google and you’ll see.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        So true, Sixer. I laugh every time I see someone claiming that BC will be raking in loads of Marvel money. No way would they pay him more than they are paying Evans or Hemsworth or Pratt, all of whom have complained about the Marvel pay scale, even after things were re-negotiated after they learned how much more RDJ made for The Avengers. By acting standards for summer blockbusters, Hiddleston made very little for The Avengers and he worked on it for a longer period of time than the other actors did.

  3. Kaley says:

    I like Bendy but he really just cannot take a good picture to save his life. Chiwetel looks like he’s thinking in that photo “God, Cumberbatch is going to look terrible in this picture, isn’t he?”

  4. jenn12 says:

    Wouldn’t it be great if he were Dr. Strange? Always a supporting role? Jeez.

  5. Loopy says:

    This guy is great on screen, but when he does his interviews ,boy zero charisma, it’s a good thing he has not ever had to carry a movie completely by himself.

    • Greata says:

      Really? I find him to be always thoughtful and articulate when interviewed. These are two qualities I find very sexy.

      • Loopy says:

        He is very well spoken, I think maybe he is just too guarded but that’s his prerogative. I remember I watched an Oprah special with him,Idris and Michael Jordan(Fruiteville Station) and his segment was really bland.

      • Greata says:

        @Loopy…yes, I would agree he is guarded, and I also think there is a bit of shyness as well.

    • icerose says:

      He has amazing charisma on stage and has a reputation for being very intelligent and ethical when choosing roles. I think he pretty much carried 12 years as the lead actor. He is not someone who floats jokes and sound bites but that can become pretty boring after a while.

    • Josefa says:

      Yeah, I think he’s got an Amy Adams type of personality. Very nice, well spoken and articulate, but not particularly interesting.

      And I think he carried 12YaS very well. UO here – but I thought Fassy and Lupita weren’t all of that. Chiwetel was stellar, though.

  6. Lilacflowers says:

    Joss Whedon likes to work with a stable of actors who pop up in all his productions. He would be the one who recommended Chiwetel and Kevin Feige would take his suggestions seriously.

    • The Original Mia says:

      Yep! He was great in Serenity.

    • 'P'enny says:

      And joss clocked him and Hiddleston in Othello.

      it’s all getting to be a nepotistic, but i can deal. its not as bad as Sherlock where all parts go to friends, lovers and siblings.

  7. Sean says:

    Clearly he is to be http://marvel.wikia.com/Karl_Mordo_%28Earth-616%29

    Although he would have made a great Strange. Better than the weird looking Cumberbatch

  8. Schnee says:

    Since the Flop Cumberbatch announcement my excitement has been waning but Chiwetel has such a brutal physicality about him when he is on screen I can actually see him in such a massive project!

  9. Nicole says:

    My goodness, this man is so darn handsome!

  10. Chem says:

    Chiwetel should be James Bond.