Marvel Studios Reportedly Considering Potential "Doctor Strange" Directors

TheOriginalGMan

Via The Hollywood Reporter:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/doctor-strange-heating-up-as-682165

With Ant-Man in preproduction mode with casting well underway and the marketing rollout for Guardian of the Galaxy off to a rip-roaring start, Marvel Studios is tackling its next challenge: conjuring up the filmmaker for Doctor Strange.

Four contenders in particular have either met or are about to meet with Marvel higher-ups to bring the adventures of Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme to the screen: Mark Andrews, who co-wrote and co-directed Pixar's Brave; Nikolaj Arcel, who wrote and directed last year's best foreign film Oscar-nominated entry A Royal Affair; Dean Israelite, the helmer behind Paramount's upcoming sci-fi time-travel movie Welcome to Yesterday; and Jonathan Levine, the filmmaker behind Warm Bodies and 50/50.

Jon Aibel and Glenn Berger, the writers behind the Kung Fu Panda movies, are also in the mix, not to direct the movie but to pen the screenplay.

Marvel is looking to hire both a writer and a filmmaker to work in tandem, or a filmmaker who can do both tasks as it focuses on the hero first created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in the pages of 1963's Strange Tales No. 110.

Doctor Strange was conceived as an arrogant and selfish surgeon whose hands are damaged in a car accident. After all conventional healing methods fail, he travels to Tibet as a last-ditch effort to find a cure at the hands of a man known as the Ancient One. In an act of benevolence, Strange saves the man from the Ancient One's power-hungry disciple Baron Mordo, thus becoming the magical art's new hero.

The hero's screen appearances so far have been limited to cartoons, but he did get his own TV movie/pilot in 1978.

Marvel Studios has been working on and off on this project for several years and previously was working from an origin story draft by Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean Donnelly.

One of the challenges facing the company is making the supernatural elements mesh in a convincing way with the hi-tech and grounded elements established in movies such as Iron Man and The Avengers.

Also needing a steady hand is incorporating Strange's more outre elements, including his colorful costume and accoutrements, such as his amulet Eye of Agamotto.

TheOriginalGMan

TheOriginalGMan said:

Jon Aibel and Glenn Berger, the writers behind the Kung Fu Panda movies, are also in the mix, not to direct the movie but to pen the screenplay.

Can't believe the writer left "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" off the resume for those guys. It's pretty much the "Empire Strikes Back" of the Chipmunk franchise.

TheOriginalGMan

Bleeding Cool reports Mads Mikkelson (TV's Hannibal) is in the lead for, well, the lead ...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/02/21/marvel-narrowing-field-of-potential-doctor-strange-directors-from-a-newcomer-to-a-pixar-vet/

Seeing Arcel’s name on the list made the most impact here because it really lit up a different story that I’ve been hearing. According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Arcel’s Royal Affair star Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film’s early casting discussions.

shroud68

TheOriginalGMan said:

Bleeding Cool reports Mads Mikkelson (TV's Hannibal) is in the lead for, well, the lead ...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/02/21/marvel-narrowing-field-of-potential-doctor-strange-directors-from-a-newcomer-to-a-pixar-vet/

Seeing Arcel’s name on the list made the most impact here because it really lit up a different story that I’ve been hearing. According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Arcel’s Royal Affair star Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film’s early casting discussions.

Mads would be good in a role like Strange though I think his off kilter cadance would make for a great villian somewhere in the Marvel Universe.

playdohsrepublic

shroud68 said:

TheOriginalGMan said:

Bleeding Cool reports Mads Mikkelson (TV's Hannibal) is in the lead for, well, the lead ...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/02/21/marvel-narrowing-field-of-potential-doctor-strange-directors-from-a-newcomer-to-a-pixar-vet/

Seeing Arcel’s name on the list made the most impact here because it really lit up a different story that I’ve been hearing. According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Arcel’s Royal Affair star Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film’s early casting discussions.

Mads would be good in a role like Strange though I think his off kilter cadance would make for a great villian somewhere in the Marvel Universe.

He's my dream Dr Doom, but now that FF is whatever that is, I could see him as Dr Strange.

Mr_Cosmic

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkWD50Pz7sk

WetRats

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

Look no further.

Elsiebub

Mads is a great actor. Not sure I could see him as Strange, though... Then again, I had doubts about him playing Lecter and he floored me.

David_D

WetRats said:

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

Look no further.

That's a very interesting idea- Goggins is an incredible actor. I've never seen him play someone as bookish and aloof as I imagine Strange to be. Goggins usually feels very street smart and intelligent in a feral and very, VERY present and in the moment way. Like the wheels are spinning and he is about to jump out of his skin. If Constantine were American, Goggins would be perfect for him, but I guess for me I have always imagined Strange having a more in-his-head presence.

To change nerd channels for a second, I would say that Goggins is more of an Iago or Macbeth, and Strange to me is more of a Hamlet or a Prospero.

hauberk

David_D said:

WetRats said:

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

Look no further.

That's a very interesting idea- Goggins is an incredible actor. I've never seen him play someone as bookish and aloof as I imagine Strange to be. Goggins usually feels very street smart and intelligent in a feral and very, VERY present and in the moment way. Like the wheels are spinning and he is about to jump out of his skin. If Constantine were American, Goggins would be perfect for him, but I guess for me I have always imagined Strange having a more in-his-head presence.

To change nerd channels for a second, I would say that Goggins is more of an Iago or Macbeth, and Strange to me is more of a Hamlet or a Prospero.

That is some massive and apropos nerd channeling! I bow to your nerdishness!

LibraryBoy

shroud68 said:

TheOriginalGMan said:

Bleeding Cool reports Mads Mikkelson (TV's Hannibal) is in the lead for, well, the lead ...

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/02/21/marvel-narrowing-field-of-potential-doctor-strange-directors-from-a-newcomer-to-a-pixar-vet/

Seeing Arcel’s name on the list made the most impact here because it really lit up a different story that I’ve been hearing. According to one pretty solid Marvel-adjacent source, Arcel’s Royal Affair star Mads Mikkelsen apparently is, or has been, somewhere in the mix for the film’s early casting discussions.

Mads would be good in a role like Strange though I think his off kilter cadance would make for a great villian somewhere in the Marvel Universe.

He made a good Bond villain in Casino Royale.

WetRats

David_D said:

WetRats said:

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

Look no further.

That's a very interesting idea- Goggins is an incredible actor. I've never seen him play someone as bookish and aloof as I imagine Strange to be. Goggins usually feels very street smart and intelligent in a feral and very, VERY present and in the moment way. Like the wheels are spinning and he is about to jump out of his skin. If Constantine were American, Goggins would be perfect for him, but I guess for me I have always imagined Strange having a more in-his-head presence.

To change nerd channels for a second, I would say that Goggins is more of an Iago or Macbeth, and Strange to me is more of a Hamlet or a Prospero.

That's one of the reasons I think this would work so well. He's been typecast, but I think he's got a really good hero potential if given the chance.

BTW: Did you see him on Community?

TheOriginalGMan

WetRats said:

BTW: Did you see him on Community?

Was he one of the German foosball players?

WetRats

TheOriginalGMan said:

WetRats said:

BTW: Did you see him on Community?

Was he one of the German foosball players?

No. He played a lawyer in an episode this season.

WetRats

BTW: Awesome Goggins drawing by Bill Sienkiewicz, swiped from Pat Loika's website.

SolitaireRose

David_D said:

WetRats said:

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

Look no further.

That's a very interesting idea- Goggins is an incredible actor. I've never seen him play someone as bookish and aloof as I imagine Strange to be. Goggins usually feels very street smart and intelligent in a feral and very, VERY present and in the moment way. Like the wheels are spinning and he is about to jump out of his skin. If Constantine were American, Goggins would be perfect for him, but I guess for me I have always imagined Strange having a more in-his-head presence.

To change nerd channels for a second, I would say that Goggins is more of an Iago or Macbeth, and Strange to me is more of a Hamlet or a Prospero.

Goggins is an amazing actor, and the week where he was on Justified and Community (and I watched him on Sons of Anarchy the same week) just showed that there is nothing the guy can't do. Whoever nabs him for a movie franchise is pretty much printing money.

SolitaireRose

So, I am a HUGE Doctor Strange fan, and I love the idea for a movie, but I am someone who says that they will need to avoid a lot of the problems the comic has had over the years, such as:

-Nearly unlimited power
-TOO much freedom in the type of stories. Doc fails when the writers feel like they can throw him into any type of story and it works. He really needs to be grounded.
-Lack of a "flaw". Marvel heroes works best when they have a flaw, like Spider-man's guilt, Tony's heart problem and Captain America's endless bellyaching about Bucky being dead.

rebis

Oh, what the hell.

David_D

Re @WetRats and @SolitaireRose

I haven't seen Community (and I am woefully behind on SOA), but great to hear he got to do something out of his usual roles. I am not at all surprised by his range, I guess I am just used to there being something he does very well that is not a Dr. Strange-type of energy (to me). Though I would show up and watch the hell out of it if he did do something like that.

SolitaireRose

Depending on how far behind you are on SoA, you HAVE seen him. Um, her.

Yeah. That's what I said.

TheOriginalGMan

Ugh.

"Matthew Modine Expresses Desire To Play Dr. Strange"

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/devlin712/news/?a=95008

Whirlwind

Well, I figure Strange should be tall, British, aristocratic, well-spoken, cerebral, intense, in his 30's or 40's, somewhat aloof, and dark-haired. What about Benedict Cumberbatch?

And for director, I nominate Guillermo del Toro.

rebis

According to the Marvel Universe Wiki, Strange was born in Phili while his parents were vacationing there. His actual childhood home is a farm in Nebraska. So, if a movie is going to stay close to the comic origin, a Brit in the role won't work. However, the roll does need someone that exudes a kind of patrician arrogance.
I'm not a videophile, I don't follow actors careers, and I get into trouble every time I do this, but I think the roll needs someone LIKE a Kelsey Grammer.

playdohsrepublic

If anyone has seen True Detective, Cary Joji Fukunaga has directed every episode and is doing something really special there. I think he would bring something amazing to Doctor Strange.

David_D

playdohsrepublic said:

If anyone has seen True Detective, Cary Joji Fukunaga has directed every episode and is doing something really special there. I think he would bring something amazing to Doctor Strange.

Absolutely. True Detective is a HELL of a thing, and if they went with Fukunaga that would be a great choice. (Though, selfishly, I would rather him just spend all his time making more and more series of True Detective.)

bralinator

Mr_Cosmic said:

I want an over the top, charismatic Strange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkWD50Pz7sk

Awesome.

playdohsrepublic said:

If anyone has seen True Detective, Cary Joji Fukunaga has directed every episode and is doing something really special there. I think he would bring something amazing to Doctor Strange.

Yes. More please.

Brack

SolitaireRose said:

So, I am a HUGE Doctor Strange fan, and I love the idea for a movie, but I am someone who says that they will need to avoid a lot of the problems the comic has had over the years, such as:

-Nearly unlimited power
-TOO much freedom in the type of stories. Doc fails when the writers feel like they can throw him into any type of story and it works. He really needs to be grounded.
-Lack of a "flaw". Marvel heroes works best when they have a flaw, like Spider-man's guilt, Tony's heart problem and Captain America's endless bellyaching about Bucky being dead.

These are not the problems Dr Strange has. The problems Dr Strange has is when editors and writers (mainly editors) think these are the problems Dr Strange stories have and try to "fix" him.

Just use the Ditko period as the film bible and it will be fine.