Well, there’s bad news for all of us hoping that Benedict Cumberbatch would be able to find time in his schedule to play Doctor Strange in Marvel’s latest superhero movie. But this is good news for people who were like “Ugh, please say Doctor Strange isn’t going to be Scarfy Depp.” The last time we had any kind of major reporting on this casting, the trade papers claimed it was between Tom Hardy and Cumberbatch. Now the trade papers are saying it’s probably going to be Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin as a character named “Doctor Strange”? It fits.
Joaquin Phoenix is in early talks to star in Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” sources confirm.
Deal is far from complete but insiders confirm that Phoenix is strongly considering the superhero role, which had previously been linked to Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy.
Scott Derrickson is directing with Jon Spaihts currently rewriting the script. The pic will be produced by Marvel chief Kevin Feige and could be featured at Saturday’s Comic-Con presentation in San Diego, which is already expected to include the cast of “The Avengers.”
The comicbook follows a former neurosurgeon who serves as the “Sorcerer Supreme” — the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats. Strange made his first appearance in the 1963 comicbook series “Strange Tales” and would go on to have his own comicbook series and would appear in several other comicbooks that included “The Fantastic Four,” “Spider-Man” and “Nick Fury.”
Marvel has teased Doctor Strange in several pics including “Thor” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Phoenix can be seen next in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice.” He is repped by WME.
That report was published before the Marvel panel at Comic-Con, which did not include any specific announcements about Doctor Strange. So, they’re still working on it. I’m taking these reports at face value – Joaquin is showing some interest and Marvel is talking to him. While I think Joaquin could totally play any character if his heart was in it, I do think he would probably have some issues signing away a big chunk of the next five or six years to become a Marvel company-man. That’s just not who Joaquin is – he’s not “corporate.” He doesn’t seem interested in all of that. Plus, there’s always the chance that he’ll go rogue even if he does sign on.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Marvel.
But why does he look so dusty?
I think his capacity to “go rogue” might be a breath of fresh air. He would certainly be a publicity pull, for that reason. Plus, we’ve seen from his Oscar campaign that he will toe the line when he needs to. I don’t think you get to be as famous as he is without being willing to play the game.
Is there a chance that Joaquin going rogue would make watching Marvel movies (or rather, picking my nose and wishing cinemas were light enough that I could read a book in them) because the Sixlets need someone to take them to see Marvel movies (what a ridiculous sentence. Oh well, never mind, I’ll carry on until the bitter end) worthwhile?
If not, I don’t care.
Errrrrrrr……
It’d still be more entertaining than anything DC musters up these days.
How goeth it, Miss Sixer?
I just cannot be entertained by these narrative-free films, sorry! I get why kids and devotees are, but they’re not for me. I like STORIES! I had to see the latest Planet of the Apes at the weekend – yawned through that too, but at least there was a semblance of a plot. And, what with it being school holidays now, both decent TVs in the house are dedicated to sport – test cricket on one; Commonwealth Games on t’other. Oh well, I prefer sport to Marvel, so there’s that.
Otherwise, I’m fine ta, missy. Maths and physics exams taken. Weather sunny. Enough work but nothing in a rush to be done.
Yourself?
Oh, I’m fully on board with the whole plot thing. It amazes me how many major movies just completely forego narrative. I can’t get excited about sport, but that’s probably because I only really have access to baseball and American football, neither of which I really get.
Are you still studying during the summer? How long is your course? I hear the weather has been really nice this summer back home.
I’m good, thanks. I swore I would take the summer off, but am now in the middle of four projects. I’m trying to read ALL of David Edgar’s plays on the side, which is a whole other job in itself.
Yes to narrative. I keep saying TV is where it’s at and I’m sticking with that. I do actually enjoy sport on TV, just perhaps not the wall-to-wall schedule adopted by holidaying Sixlets. They went out to actually play cricket this afternoon, however, so huzzah.
No; I have to decide pretty sharpish whether or not to move on with the OU physics in the autumn. I think I will. The A level exams went ok. Somehow, I’d absorbed most of the physics already simply by watching Brian Cox on TV and reading science websites. I just needed the technicalities/details.
I always swear to have some downtime but never quite manage it. I think we secretly enjoy being busy. Amirite?!
There was a plot in the latest Planet of the Apes? I missed it; probably because I was too focused on wanting Gary Oldman’s character to die.
They’ll have a hard time getting him to properly promote the film when the time comes. Dude isn’t known for playing along on a publicity tour.
+1
As i think it’s a great idea of casting ( i never believe in Tom Hardy ‘s casting because Hardy has an agreement with Warner Bros) as my first tought was that the promotion will be difficult with him
I think he is the best choice out of all the other rumored contenders. Chris Evans has not been great shakes at promoting Captain America with some of his goofy comments and those movies do just fine. Marvel knows what they are going to get with Joaquin if he is the guy that they are in talks with.
Apparently, he’s been trying to attach himself to a super-hero franchise for a while, which seems odd for him, but I guess he wants to try everything. He would be an interesting choice.
He would be awesome…
Agreed.
I think so too. Whatever kind of mess his personal life is, he is an AMAZING actor~
I know nothing about this character beyond the name and what was written in this post, and I say good choice.
The press tour would probably be a hilarious train wreck. Can you imagine??
And he’ll drag his brother-in-law Casey Affleck along to film it as a documentary.
He’s a great actor and can play the game when need be.
I’d be game for this.
Ugh, NO. Not unless Greasy Dude grows up. Marvel movies are major bank, and I’m nerd enough that it will just piss me off if his stupis shenanigans derail production or turn the press tour into a cluster. I just do not like this guy.
On another note, I am BEYOND thrilled to see Jon Spaihts doing the rewrite. Kind of the universe’s way of apologizing for the abomination his Prometheus script became at the hands of Damon Lindelof.
That would be a good choice, in my opinion.
That would be certainly funny but Marvel would regret their choice, Marvel loves its actors being ultra PR.
Yup. Joaquin would make that character interesting, but the PR demands a player and I can’t see Joaquin even tolerating that kind of madness.
Can you imagine Joaquin stunting like Andrew Garfield? Playing basketball with school kids in Singapore and sh*t? Or french braiding interns’ hair like Chris whatshisname? Marvel will have another Ed Norton situation on their hands.
What Edward Norton did was unforgivable — and beyond not just wanting to play with fans or anything like that. Among many things (like trying to rewrite the dialogues and getting writing credits for it — seriously, it came to a point where his brawl with Zak Penn had to be arbitrated by the Screen Writers Guild), he flat out refused to promote the movie (The Incredible Hulk) because it wasn’t edited the way he wanted. Back then, even Universal had to release a statement saying he had “fulfilled his contractual obligations” which, to me, simply meant “did enough not to be sued”. He managed to be a pain in the ass to work with before, during and after the movie was done.
Phoenix may have issues, but I have never heard or read about him being an unprofessional a**hole on set. The one time he did something weird was back when he was supposed to be promoting that movie with Gwyneth Paltrow — by then, he was filming his “mockumentary” so I think behaving like a d*ck was part of the “role”.
Totally forgot about all that, Eve! Though I had not clue SWG had to intervene.
They had. And Penn won — apparently, they decided that the overall plot was more important than rewritten dialogues.
But seriously, there was more than that. I wrote a plethora of posts here on CB back when Mark Ruffalo was announced as the new Bruce Banner/Hulk. Many fans were defending Norton and I had to explain why he deserved to be fired. In fact, Marvel had taken too long to doing so (in my opinion).
Thanks, Eve! I’m going to have to hunt down those posts.
Found three:
http://www.celebitchy.com/108025/ed_norton_dropped_from_marvels_avengers_very_bitchy_press_release_issued/
http://www.celebitchy.com/109829/mark_ruffalo_announced_as_the_new_hulk_after_ed_norton_got_fired/
http://www.celebitchy.com/292691/edward_norton_his_fiancee_shauna_robertson_welcomed_a_baby_boy_last_month/
I used to have links to articles, interviews and so on…but lost most of them when I got a new PC. My favourite (to show Norton’s a**holery) is an interview for MTV, just some months after TIH semi-flopped, where he says “The minds at Marvel are sometimes opaque, I won’t say [they’re] obtuse, but I don’t have any idea what they want to do.”
Here’s an interesting one though:
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/07/12/edward-norton-avengers-hulk-timeline/
At one point he suggested the fans should e-mail Marvel and say what they wanted (in order for him to come back as Bruce Banner). What. A. D*ck.
@Eve
I didn’t know any of this. He is not one of my favourite actors, but now he is down the black list lol What.An.Imbecile.
Thanks for the information Eve!
I’ve heard a few reports of Phoenix being difficult, think Duvall said something, but nowhere near the level of Ed Norton, Jr and that was years ago anyway.
He is bad at press though, Venice for The Master was pretty awful, so I don’t know about this.
@ Lady Macbeth:
I know a lot about Norton’s diva antics because I used to be a fan…back then I already knew he was a bit of a d*ck but, blinded by love and admiration, I used to excuse his behaviour and say he was just being “a perfectionist”.
After the whole mess with The Incredible Hulk, never again. He’s just plain unprofessional. Not even his acting I like anymore.
I could see it, people underestimate him but he actually does a lot of charity work, he’s a board member for the Lunchbox fund. That said, the promotional tour, that’s something I don’t see him doing.
@ Eve:
Lol, I was the exact same. But the whole Hulk scandal just ruined Ed for me. Now whenever I watch one of his movies all I wonder is how much of a d*ck he was on set. I still acknowledge his talent, but in order for me to consider anyone good at his profession, he has to be, well… a professional.
I say he can do whatever he likes. I’ve yet to be disappointed with Joaquin in any role so I’m there when it comes out.
🙂
Into it. Seriously seriously into it. He’s a brilliant actor and has enough edge to him to take the “magic/mystic” aspect to the MCU to some really interesting places and also ground it too (ie could wear that cape with that collar and not look ridiculous). Not that I wouldn’t also like the Batch (I will stand by my assertion I would rather see him as a mo-cap character) but Joaquin would be a very cool choice.
A couple insiders think he is actually being considered for the villain role NOT Dr. Strange. I read a couple reports that Justin Theroux is the top pick to play Dr. Strange.
LMAO good one, and Jennifer Aniston will be Ms Marvel.
Oh God, please no on Justin Theroux. God no….
Please no, just no. Having enough trouble watching him on The Left-overs.
No
Absolutely not, not that I have any particular affection for Dr Strange. Haven’t a clue about the character. But, the actor JP is la-la, and not clean cut enough for Marvel. He’s not a team player. RDJ is rogue enough and they had to cut a deal to keep him locked in and behaved. But in honest he has grown up. JP still has issues.
To be honest, this is a game with Marvel, throw in red herrings. This role is Benedict’s and somehow I think they will make the filming work around Hamlet. Benedict seemed a bit ‘off’ but no doubt about it he wants the role. Not as much as Hamlet, but he wants it.
And, he will fit into Marvel corporate image nicely. he has that team player attitude which is what making the films a success.
And…. Loki and Dr Strange have a big sorcerery fight in the comics. Wouldn’t that be good on screen. 😀 Thanos sends Loki to fight Strange in Avengers 3?
Ahem, you’d like to see Hiddles and Cumberbatch fighting then? 😉
Gooood yes!! Totally give it, because both of them in real-life would pull hair & scream like girls and hit the whiskey & and do impressions till 5am :-p than fight. True test of their acting abilities.
Nooo, they’d stare each other in the eye for 10 minutes, fists clenched, chests pumped, breathing heavily and making what they think are blood-thirsty faces, then would exhale, wordlessly leave the room together and hit the nearest pub.
@innie
can we film this please? Now! 😀
and for lilac flowers, i will add topless chests to the scene, very pumped up chests of course.
make them have curly hair blonde v’ dark
just one change, wordlessly? them two? they don’t know how to be wordless. they could end up fighting with quills and parker pens.
Dear ‘p’enny, thank you for shirtless Loki. My Dr. Strange is Pedro Pascal or Oded Fehr.
UGH! More Marvel movies?! Good grief. I wish there would be a break from comic book movies for a few years but Marvel’s greed knows no bounds and they are going to milk that comic book cow until they finally start to lose some serious $.
Sad that unless you have massive destruction, 99.9% CGI and people in tight spandex costumes robotically reciting lines, most people do not care for other types of movies anymore.
It’s the industry’s formula for getting the big box office family and male 18-25 demographics. As long as there’s no sex, of course; ultra violence is fine. *eyeroll* Still, good films are being made (like the recent “Snowpiercer”) but you have to pounce on your local art house to see them in typically limited release.
And “A Most Wanted Man,” Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last leading role.
Brilliant actor, brilliant choice for this particular role, but I doubt Phoenix will say yes. He’s already declined a Marvel role (twice).
Vaguely remember Dr Strange character- but just no to JP playing him. I saw The Immigrant not too long ago- and that was a huge snore-fest. I fear JP is starting to mail it in- his performance from The Master all over again, exc it worked in that film.
Still wishing those Oded Fehr as Strange rumors were true. Then again I’d wish Marvel would get on the representation train…
My first thought when this news broke was “I can’t see him signing his career away to Marvel” because it’s not a one and done scenario. I’m sure he’d be great, but he’d basically be owned by Marvel for the next decade or so.
I would be so excited if it was Oded Fehr. He’s perfect for it and I need more sexy Fehr on my screen
Okay, its going to come out sooner rather than later… I, too, am in talks for Dr. Strange. Marvel is forcing Joaquin, Cumby and I to thumb wrestle for it.
LOL!
Ok, I love Phoenix, but you’re the one who gets my vote.
Why thank you darling – it’s a fairly tight competition. I mean, yes – they are extremely talented thespians with years of experience and countless accolades between them, but I can rock a cape with standing portrait collar so its neck-in-neck, really.
You have my vote but if you win will cast benny,tom, tom2, mark s, & Sean b ?? 🐰
You have my vote too!
JP cleans up amazingly well, and his acting is always top form. No matter what he does off-screen, he is perfection on film. I def see the point some people are making about the promo side of things not being his bag, but if he wants to, he can play the game.
I’m all for it! Never seen a film of him where he’s been less that stellar.
Miles better than Bombadil Cabbagepatch (I have been SO overdosed on his face, I feel like he should take a two-year holiday) but I really really REALLY want it to be Oded Fehr. He’s got the perfect look, and he doesn’t bring a ton of bagage from other roles like Bandicoot Curdlesnoot does.
(Sorry, I don’t hate Benneton Cuttlefish, I just got addicted to the name generator)
People were against Depp playing the role? I remember them wanting him for it. I think he would be great in the role but he’s most likely isn’t even interested in it.