Marvel already has its Doctor Strange, in the shape of one Benedict Cumberbatch. Now the task for director Scott Derrickson and his team is to build a cast around their leading man. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kevin Feige and co. are reportedly interested in Chiwetel Ejiofor for a role{
It’s apparently very early days on the idea, so don’t go adding him to the cast list just yet. And even if the 12 Years A Slave star does sign a contract, Marvel is keeping typically quiet on which role he might play. So far, speculation has pointed towards him taking on the Ancient One, a semi-immortal mystic who mentors the hero. There’s also the chance he could be a villain – anyone who loved him in Serenity knows he plays a classy bad guy.
With shooting still a ways off, don’t expect to hear anything immediately. So far, only Cumberbatch is confirmed for the film, playing the arrogant surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme after his ego and hands are shattered in an accident. Jon 'Prometheus' Spaihts wrote the most recent draft of the script and Derrickson is targeting an October 28, 2016 release date in the UK, with the US following on November 4.
Ejiofor will next show up in post-apocalyptic drama** Z For Zachariah**, which is premiering in Sundance, John Hillcoat’s crime thriller Triple Nine (arriving on September 11) and Ridley Scott’s The Martian, which has a release set for November 27.