After months of rumors about every remotely plausible actor in Hollywood, Marvel has finally chosen its Doctor Strange. And as it turns out, it’s the guy everyone expected in the first place: Benedict Cumberbatch.
Deadline reports that contract negotiations are about to begin, meaning that while there’s still time for Cumberbatch to drop out, we’re no longer in the realm of speculation.
This would be Cumberbatch’s most high-profile role to date, following supporting parts in blockbusters like The Hobbit and Star Trek Into Darkness, and a recent career in historical dramas such as 12 Years A Slave and The Imitation Game. He’s still best known for Sherlock though, an iconic character that may finally be overshadowed if he winds up signing one of Marvel’s infamous multi-picture deals. That is, if he can actually fit Doctor Strange into his schedule.
CUMBERBATCH AS DR. STRANGE!!!! dreams do come true
— Dom Fera (@DominicFear) October 27, 2014
Cumberbatch has been something of a controversial figure in the online discussion about Doctor Strange, not due to his own suitability so much as his ubiquity in geek culture. He’s become more or less unavoidable if you’re interested in Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek, or The Hobbit, and some Marvel fans are less than excited by the prospect of him showing up in their fandom too.
Cumberbored RT @Overstweet: CUMBERSATCH:: Moment that a culture reaches a Benedict Cumberbatch saturation point. https://t.co/CauM8iukmb
— Hannah Swithinbank (@hannahswiv) October 27, 2014
We need a https://t.co/SAtkdqVRXe petition to put an end to Benedict Cumberbatch being in things. Can’t we get him a job with MI6?
— K Tempest Bradford (@tinytempest) October 27, 2014
If Cumberbatch starts being in everything AND disappoints us in it. Then we can be cynical. But not when he’s crushing it!
— Andrew Ivimey (@Ivimey) October 27, 2014
That being said, Cumberbatch is rarely known to receive a bad review as an actor, and he’s certainly made his mark as Sherlock. It isn’t much of a jump to see him as the haughty sorcerer Doctor Strange.
Since Marvel is yet to officially announced Cumberbatch, there’s still a bit of room for speculation. But if tomorrow’s much-hyped “secret” Marvel event has anything to do with Doctor Strange, then you may have less than 24 hours to wait to hear this casting confirmed.
Photo via DalWang92/Wikimedia CC-BY-SA 2.0
