Although not officially announced as part of Marvel's Phase 3, DOCTOR STRANGE is now generating some steam as the studio is beginning to look at a writer/director team to tackle the Sorcerer Supreme for his introductory outing (assuming he doesn't show up in an earlier film). THR reports that four contenders have met or are about to meet with top brass about the project, including: Mark Andrews (BRAVE), Nikolaj Arcel (A ROYAL AFFAIR), Dean Israelite (WELCOME TO YESTERDAY), and Jonathan Levine (WARM BODIES). An interesting batch, to be sure. While I'm not immediately wowed by any of these choices, I wasn't blown away by Joe and Anthony Russo for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and based on the trailers I'm about to have crow for dinner in April.
KUNG FU PANDA writers Jon Aibel and Glenn Berger are also being considered for the project, but only for scripting duties. Ideally, Marvel is looking for a writer/director team to start working in conjunction with one another from the start or to hire someone who can handle both duties on their own.
It's been rumored that Marvel may be looking to craft DOCTOR STRANGE (aka Stephen Strange) to become the new "leader" of the MCU and that they'll be filling his curly cape with a solid and bankable A-lister to carry the torch as Robert Downey Jr. winds down his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Names like Johnny Depp, Viggo Mortensen, Justin Theroux, and even Joseph Gordon-Levitt at one time (who is now moving on to DC's Sandman) have been rumored for the role in the past. Regardless of who they get to direct or star, Marvel will have their hands full attempting to mix in the magic realm of the Marvel Universe into the cinematic one, so there's definitely more at stake than talent.
Unofficially, DOCTOR STRANGE will (most likely) populate the Phase 3 Marvel Cinematic Universe line-up.
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