Friday, August 22, 2014

Jon Hamm Shoots Down "Doctor Strange" Chatter

On the stump in the UK to promote this week's release of the sports biopic Million Dollar Arm actor was asked by Digital Spy if he would be interested in taking the lead in Marvel's long gestating Doctor Strange movie.


He told them that he was never offered it but is open to the idea:

"The funny thing about the internet is you can have rumors go on about possible jobs, and possible things that you have no idea. Maybe, I don't know. It's funny when the internet knows more about you than you do, but maybe they've been talking to someone at Marvel. I certainly wasn't approached about it, but I do like Doctor Strange. He's a cool character."

 Now part of the studio's phase three or four plans--Created in 1963 in the comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko --Doctor Strange tells the story of an arrogant surgeon who is injured in a car accident and goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the universe. Using his magical powers Strange protects the earth from attacks from other realms.

The recently hired Scott Derrickson was first reported in contention for the director job earlier this year, along with names like Jonathan Levine ("Warm Bodies") and Mark Andrews ("Brave").

"Kung Fu Panda" scribes Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were said to be poised to pen a recent screenplay draft. Back in January 2012, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer-the writing duo behind the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian had their work seemingly approved by the studio. Just yesterday we learned that Jon Spaihts, best known for writing the early and more "Alien"-inspired drafts of Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" is in talks to rewrite the script. The tone of the film will be similar to that of "Iron Man".

Actor/writer Justin Theroux ("Mulholland Drive," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle"), Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton were mentioned for the lead as well. "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Rises" star Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the last actor in the mix before Johnny Depp's name was mentioned

Depp is said to have had a meeting "to discuss taking on the role of Dr. Strange." His strong ties to Disney, Marvel's owners, makes him an ideal candidate

On the heels of the director potentials Bleeding Cool reported that: "According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film's early casting discussions."

Deadline had Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch hovering over the pic recently--The main issue for both actors is scheduling..They already have various commitments elsewhere. Both of them starred together in 2011's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," remake and the 2007 telemovie "Stuart: A Life Backwards" Badass Digest reported that recent Oscar winner Jared Leto is (or was) being eyed to play the lead. The Wrap had Joaquin Phoenix is in talks for the lead role late last week

Edgar Ramirez has been mentioned as well---possibly playing bad guy Baron Mordo.

There's no specific release date for "Doctor Strange," yet it will likely take one of the slots that the studio has staked out-recently Production on the film is expected to get underway next year.

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