Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange!!

It's official at last!

I think we've all known for some time now that Sherlock, The Hobbit and Star Trek Into Darkness star Benedict Cumberbatch was set to play sorcerer supreme Doctor Strange in a solo film and in other films set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But even with this very film we've seen that you should not see anything as official until the studio confirms it themselves.

We saw Joaquin Phoenix come ever so close to signing onto the role before he turned it down after dismissing a multi-film commitment. After Phoenix left negotiations, names like Ryan Gosling and Tom Hardy were thrown around along with Benedict Cumberbatch. Speaking honestly, I would've loved to have seen Joaquin Phoenix tackle this type of role. However, like the rest of the world I love Benedict Cumberbatch and I love the idea of him as Doctor Strange.

The casting itself is terrific, but it got me thinking. We know little to nothing about the plot of Doctor Strange and due to this lack of knowledge, I started speculating and coming up with my own ideas for what I'd like to happen in the film set for a November 2016 release.

A few weeks ago, German actor Daniel Bruhl (who by the way gave what was my favourite acting performance from any 2013 film as Niki Lauda in Rush) was confirmed to be playing a villain in Captain America: Civil War AND Doctor Strange. I think he is the most underrated actor in Hollywood at the moment and to see him involved in the MCU just makes me feel better about life. BUT!! Who the hell is he playing? Judging by the fact that he'll be appearing as an adversary to both Cap and Doc Strange, I think he's Baron Mordo. He could well be Baron Zemo though. It's like flipping a coin speculating between the 2; it could literally be either and be just as plausible.

I always thought that Marvel would introduce the magical corner of their film universe by going out all guns blazing and making Dormammu the primary antagonist. Obviously he still may be in the film as his non-involvement hasn't actually be confirmed. Honestly, had they not cast Daniel Bruhl, I would've been disappointed with the villain chosen. But I have such faith that he'll kill it in this role and we'll just have to wait and see if Baron Mordo/Zemo can be kick ass villain like Loki...

So we know that Strange will most probably face off against Baron "something", but where does this film fit with the continuity? Every film released so far as been in a chronological order, so why change it? At this point origin stories are running out of steam (with the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy) so why not just have Doctor Strange already established as a superhero, or at least as a "human with super powers of a sort"?

Also, in Cap 2 "Doctor Stephen Strange" was labelled as a "threat" by a HYDRA agent, indicating that he is already well known and established in this universe. He would only be a threat if he had his powers, right? So do what The Incredible Hulk did and tell the origin story in the opening credits or something, and then go onto the movie.

So those are my quick speculations on Doctor Strange and the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch has finally been confirmed, and just in time for the Avengers: Age of Ultron re-shoots! Do you think he'll cameo or make an extended appearance in either Avengers 2 or Captain America: Civil War before his solo flick? Comment below if you think so...


Thanks for reading,
Matt