Marvel Studios are on a speeding bullet train it seems. Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger have done well at the box office and footage from The Avengers seems to indicate the trend will last. Now it looks as if Marvel is turning their gaze to the Sorcerer Supreme – Doctor Strange.
According to the website Twitch, the writing team of Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Donnelly have turned in a Doctor Strange script and Marvel is going forward with the property. “Marvel has drafted a short list of directors to approach on the title and is forwarding the current script to each to try and sign someone up to ‘oversee continued development,’” writes Twitch.
Oppenheimer and Donnelly previously worked on the Conan reboot, soon to hit theaters, Dylan Dog and Cowboys and Aliens. A good chunk of Marvel’s main hero properties have been utilized at this point and while there’s been a great deal of science-fiction involved with those properties, fantasy for the most part has been steered clear of. Was Doctor Strange really the next natural choice or would it have been a bolder move for Marvel to give one of their heroines a solo shot?
This early in the game nothing is certain but there is one bit of information that may lead us to believe this Doctor Strange movie will happen, Strange’s Orb of Agamotto was one of the artifacts seen in Odin’s vault in Thor. With Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 scheduled for release in 2013 it seems unlikely we’d see this one for a while.
August 1st, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Good news to see another obscure hero getting a flick, but I am a bit worried. Dylan Dog sucked and from what I hear, Cowboys isn’t all that hot either.
I’d hate to have another Green Lantern-level bomb here.
August 1st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I knew I saw the Eye of Agamotto in Thor.
Anyway…I think the next line of characters to get the movie treatment have already been chosen all thanks to the new Marvel characters in the upcoming Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. It has to be more than a coincidence since Marvel didn’t give us the most requested characters (Venom & Gambit) or characters from MvsC 2.
Hawkeye: The Avengers movie of course ^_^
Ghost Rider: Ghost Rider SOV is in the works
Dr Strange: In development it seems
Hank Pym : No he’s not a playable character but he’s part of
Hawkeye’s lvl3 hyper combo. But he too has a movie in
development.
Now as far as I know there haven’t been rumors of a Nova, Iron Fist or a Rocket Raccoon movie, but I wouldn’t be surprised one bit. The first 2 cover genres we haven’t seen from Marvel yet (cosmic & martial arts) and Rocket Raccoon could easily be a kids movie, maybe by Pixar?
August 1st, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I’ve always thought Doc had movie potential, done properly. His is a compelling origin story, and the property has great visual and dramatic potential. The zeitgeist seems ripe for it as well. Unfortunately the perfect guy for the part is already playing Iron Man. Still, there are any number of actors who could play Stephen Strange well. I only hope the story is deep and emotional, and the visuals something we’ve never seen in a movie before.
August 1st, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I would think Fantastic Four would make for an easier choice. For one thing that a large scale audience is already familiar with the property. Plus it would be easier to fold it into the post-Avengers Marvel Movieverse, and a future summer blockbuster of Avengers and Fantastic Four crossover vs some Galactic Big Bad would be just crazy. Because how do you top the Avengers? You introduce another team like the Fantastic Four. Just like the summer crossover annuals comics of old.
Dr. Strange would make an interesting character in an Avengers 2 movie, but as a stand alone character I would think it would be a little difficult to keep people interested in Marvel’s Magical World. It might be a great first movie, but I would think for movie 2 and 3 it would begin to lose its audience. Dr. Strange is no Harry Potter, and he has no supporting cast that is just as interesting as he is. Plus his rogue’s gallery is limited. Sure there all heavy, heavy, hitters, like Mephisto, Dormammu, Nightmare, and Belasco, but it seems like the same think over and over again. But hey, maybe is will just as popular as Harry Potter.
This is just my opinion based on past years audiences of the comicbook property. It just seemed that the comic could not sustain a following for very long and that is why there is no Dr Strange comic out now.
August 1st, 2011 at 5:08 pm
With the right cast and crew, this could really have potential. I never thought I’d like an Iron Man movie, and I’m quite glad I was wrong. Still haven’t seen Thor or Captain America yet, having a 15 month old doesn’t leave you with a lot of free time!
August 1st, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Patrick Dempsey has been lobbying Marvel for this role for awhile now.
August 1st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
After Thor Bomb and Cap american I think it safe to say that people are getting sick of Marvel Thank God the GL movie was a Hit
August 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm
If there is one actor near perfect for this role, it is the actor already playing a brilliant bur crippled surgeon who practices unorthodox methods to save people. And is also an ass.
I’m talking of course, of Hugh Laurie.
August 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm
GL, Cap and Thor were good so blow me!
August 1st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Luke Cage …’nuff said.
August 1st, 2011 at 6:18 pm
actually, the juxtaposition of some other articles I saw earlier on a different movie website made me realize that Bradley Cooper would be a GREAT Dr. Strange.
August 1st, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Dollars to donuts they start seeding a Defenders movie with this.
August 1st, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Thanks @Michael, for that report from Bizarro World.
August 1st, 2011 at 7:03 pm
The Eye of Agamotto was NOT in Thor, that was The Warlocks Eye, and has been confirmed by Kevin Feige
August 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
@Jav Fantastic Four isn’t possible because Marvel doesn’t own the rights to the movie versions of the characters yet, (It’s the same reason why Spider-man can’t be an Avenger)
This is the 2nd or 3rd round of Dr. Strange rumors so I figure Marvel must be pushing it, just waiting for the right time and people to come along.
August 1st, 2011 at 7:07 pm
@Michael
Except Thor outgrossed and got better reviews than GL? And after only two weeks, so has Captain America? LOL
GL didn’t even come close to making it’s own budget back. In what world was it a hit?
August 1st, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Kevin Bacon as Doc Strange
August 1st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
LIAM NEESON FOR THE STARRING ROLE!
August 1st, 2011 at 9:47 pm
I like the idea in concept — I’ve actually wanted a Doctor Strange movie for a while.
But I don’t think it will turn out the way I want. But I also know they’re not trying to please me specifically.
August 1st, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Patrick Dempsey would suck as Dr. Strange!!! We need to see someone far more odd and eccentric in the vein of Nicholas Cage or Johnny Depp for the role.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I think there are rooms for Marvel HEROES outside of the Avengers franchise, it worked for BLADE so I see no reasons..Let’s get ridd of the Avengers characters for a little time after a trilogy for each one, and start developping heroes like STRANGE, IRON FIST, CAGE, MOON KNIGHT, SPIDERWOMAN, MACHINE MAN…
I’m all for Liam Neeson in the lead role, definitely.
Stuart Gordon would be awesome to direct it. With him on board, we could be sure the film will be about occultism..
August 1st, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@LinderSMASH
You’re right, the Eye of Agamotto wasn’t in Thor. But the Orb of Agamotto was, which is what the article says.
@comic_dude
I agree that Depp would be great for the role, but I think Dempsey would do an awesome job as well. He’s definitely “odd and eccentric” if you’ve seen some of his older stuff. Oh, and Nic Cage? No thank you. He should never get near another comics property.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Let’s just see if the movie actually gets greenlit before speculating on who will be playing the Doc, shall we?
August 1st, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Johnny Depp as Doc. Tim Burton directing.
I hope they have the good sense to keep the compelling origin story–and NOT add extraneous bits to it or turn the Ancient One into Yoda, like the recent cartoon did.
I don’t think this should be treated as part of the same movie continuity–or at most, cross-references should be kept incidental.
Newsarama had a recent piece on Doc’s costumes, one or two of which might work in a movie. Hope the producers / costumers see it.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:18 am
Ghost Rider…Man-Thing…Blade…Fantastic Four…Silver Surfer…Thor…
Now Doctor Strange…another of my favorite characters that will be turned into a joke and be utterly unrecognizable just because they want to make a stupid movie out of it.
I was really hoping Thor, Green Lantern and Captain America would bomb so this hell would end.
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:33 am
@Skott:
So much for gratitude! You’d think comic fans would be happy that all these characters are being brought to the big screen…
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:54 am
In a post Harry Potter world, this is a very smart idea. Just make sure to cast Johnny Depp as Strange and get Guillermo Del Toro to direct and Marvel will have another solid gold franchise on their hands.
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:18 am
Strange is a great character and his origin would actually be exciting enough to spend 2 hours on. Unlike a lot of other characters, his origin contains a whole character and plot arc.
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:24 am
If the Doctor Strange movie goes forward, will Marvel/Disney continue to make sure that Doctor Strange is part of the Paramount’s Avenger universe? I personally think that Doctor Strange is too cosmic to do well. I think that Marvel/Disney should consider doing either a Black Widow movie, a Hawyeye movie, or reboot Daredevil.
I think that a Black Widow movie could pick-up the Bucky storyline from Captain America: First Avenger, where Black Widow becomes involved in the program that turns Bucky into the Winter Soldier. And then, you could launch right into Captain America 2 where Cap and Winter Soldier face off against each other. Doing this, I think saves Captain America 2 from focusing on Bucky’s Winter Soldier backstory.
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:29 am
The unfortunate ting about a lot of the great female characters is that they tend not to be stand-alone properties. Marvel has a ton of really interesting,really strong female characters (Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, Maria Hill, She-Hulk, etc), but they tend to be part of larger properties, which Marvel Studios either doesn’t have the rights to, or they have to exist alongside already established canon.
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:51 am
I think Dr. S should be played be Sean Bean. You need someone with presence and passion.
To me Dr. Strange is probably very soft spoken UNTIL he is in magic mode then he is making very loud pronouncements and spells and whatnot.
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:16 am
Actually HERO COMPLEX had an article with talks with JOHNNY DEPP for the role.
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:42 am
If they mess up the casting of Clea, I will burn Hollywood down.
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:57 am
Having set Iron, Cap Am & Thor & (mopst likely Avengers too) on to the franchise conveyor belt Marvel is looking to expand their portfolio of heroes.
Daredevil is still with Fox and may be for some time if their reboot goes ahead. I understand they have to get a movie into theatres by end 2012 not to lose the rights – can someone confirm this?
The FF reboot hasn’t been mention but I think they have more time to get that out. Fox could be playing the long game keep making mediocre movies so Marvel/Disney have to buy the rights back rather than let the brand be ruined – who knows. But don’t forget Fox threw a spanner in Warnewr Bros. Watchmen release to screw some extra dollars out of them.
Marvel I think will cross-pollinate their films to one keep the geeks happy, the cinematic universe continious & to bolster weak properties. How about a Blade & Punisher team up? may be throw in Daredevil if they get the rights back – it certainly would make sense.
I think the route they followed for The Avengers (release each hero in his own film) they could also follow for The Defenders.
Of all the properties for The Defenders only the Silver Surfer is owned by another studio – Fox again. There is no way Fox will OK a Silver Surfer film after the poor-showing of FF 2 Rise of the Surfer. So how long before the rights revert back to Marvel?
Well 7 years seems to be the standard time to get a film out. Electra came out in 2005 so it makes sense Fox are getting Daredevil out before the 7 year clock ticks down in 2012.
FF2 came out in 2007 – so 2014 is the latest Fox must make a Surfer film before the rights revert back to Marvel.
Based on that timeline – getting a Dr Strange movie out after Iron Man3 makes good sense.
Then you only have to get some screen time for Namor – maybe in a Cap Am 2 Invaders flashback – & you have the whole Defenders team together.
Obviously this is all mere speculation – but if you want to minimise the risk of releasing new films with unknown characters – WB pay attention after your Green Lantern screw up – have a plan where their films actually has along term purpose. A team movie:)
ps – I still want a good FF movie – but Fox will not let that porperty go cheap:(
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
How about a Captain Marvel movie, maybe even the female version of the Capt…
I’m sure DC’d just love that idea
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 pm
The lead needs to be big enough to draw non comic crowd. Someone to be booked on all talk shows/SNL. Someone who can deliver on intelligwnce and depth…for your consideration I give you… James Franco.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:33 pm
(sp)
But Marvel should sign him fast. That dude is way busy.
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Sweet, good idea
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
“Johnny Depp as Doc.”
Yes! Certainly a better idea than James Franco.
“Tim Burton directing.”
Oh God, NO!!! Never let Tim Burton near another comic book movie again.
He’ll be more concerned with making it a “Tim Burton freak show” than he will being faithful to the character and his world. Burton’s Batman films are lousy, no matter how popular the 1989 movie was in its time. It’s just that Batman Forever and Batman and Robin were even worse.
Del Toro, as someone else suggested, or Cuaron, might be good choices though.
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Disney + Marvel + Tim Burton + Johnny Depp = Doctor Strange = Huge Opening Weekend!!!
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I’m glad Marvel Studios is taking a chance with these B-list characters and giving them every opportunity to shine. If only Warner Bros. would take a hint and stop fudging the DC properties like GL.
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
C’mon, anyone not interested in seeing a Tim Burton imagined version of Steve Ditko’s Doctor Strange universe?? Johnny Depp as Doc and some hot hollywood babe as Clea???
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Johnny DEPP will play Stephen Strange / DR. STRANGE.
August 4th, 2011 at 4:01 am
Anybody reading this seen The Ninth Gate? That film could easily be seen as Johnny Depp’s audition piece for Dr Strange. Haven’t seen it in a while, admittedly, but when I did see it, I remember thinking that Depp was pretty much playing Stephen Strange. Go watch it and tell me I’m wrong!
If you do, I’ll totally ignore you, but still…
August 4th, 2011 at 4:07 am
BTW… Guillermo Del Toro is pretty much the only choice to direct. Evidence? Pan’s Labyrinth. He’d be able to get across the whole “did this really happen, or was it all in his head?” atmosphere that the early Ditko stuff had. Who wouldn’t want to see a Dormammu or Living Tribunal reimagined by Del Toro?
One request, though… use a muted version of the costume from the short-lived Warren Ellis/JM DeMatteis run, as drawn by Mark Buckingham, rather than the tights. Tights might work in comics, but on actors, they just look stupid. Every time.
August 7th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I’d love to see a well done Dr. Strange flick. What does “well done” actually mean? First, make the character look and act like the original character. Second, stick with the original origin of that character or a REASONABLE facsimile. For example, switching out Vietnam for Afghanistan in Iron Man was a great move and didn’t take away from the story. Adding Dr. Doom on the trip into space was bad for the FF, not having the Thor/Dr. Blake element in Thor lost something, and not starting with the gang from the Uncanny X-Men #1 in the X-Men movies was a bum (but everyone loves Wolverine). The Hulk movies? The poor guy has been raped twice! The Silver Surfer and a “Galactus Cloud”? STOP IT!!! How dare you show the Surfer without an origin or a towering Galactus! Third, use excellent special effects- but don’t let them overshadow the story. Yes, we want a story with character development. Make us care for the characters in the same way that we did when we read the comics. If you follow these three elements you can’t miss- you’ll do justice to the character and fan. In other words, Dr. Strange better be an arrogant neurosurgeon who injures his hands in a car crash, hits rock bottom and seeks out the Ancient One. Mordo better be his nemesis and if you end it with his epic fight against Dormammu… Great!!! And the dreaded one better have his trademark flaming head! We expect these little details and when we don’t get them it’s an instant bummer. For example, Michael Duncan as the Kingpin? The skin color didn’t matter as much as the girth or the double chin that was missing. We WANT these details! Speaking of which, PLEASE have a Wasp and Giant-Man in the Avengers movie. They were part of the original team and NEED to be in there for it to be a real Avengers movie. Also, since you’ve included Hawkeye and the Black Widow, why not the Black Panther? You did it in the cartoon version and it worked for me.
August 11th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@ roy….why don’t you @#$%^&in’ write it…sounds like you said everything I think especially that Black Panther statement…Marvel is scared to touch that property and I can tell…
February 9th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
You clearly know not what you write.music lyrics,music tracks,music sites