RUMOR: Mads Mikkelsen Being Eyed For Role In DOCTOR STRANGE?

BleedingCool is giving us an early rumor concerning the casting of Marvel's Doctor Strange. I say early, because it's only coming from one source. There also isn't a role being mentioned, but none the less the name is interesting enough to consider it. Plus, BC has had a couple of solid scoops in the past.

They have heard that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal, King Arthur, Pusher Trilogy, Clash of The Titans, Three Musketeers, Valhalla Rising) had been or is in the mix, for an unknown role in Strange. You might remember that Mads had been originally wanted for Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, but exited the project to focus on his series Hannibal (which eventually became a hit). His recent film The Hunt has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Oscars.

I'm taking this rumor a little more serious than the previous ones. Mikkelsen has a couple connections to the people Marvel was reportedly meeting with to direct and write for the the project. Nikolaj Arcel directed Mads in the film A Royal Affair. He'll also lend his voice for Kung Fu Panda 3, the writers of that film could possibly pen the Strange script. Add that Marvel previously wanted him for main role, it sounds likely that the studio is at least interested in him.

This isn't the first actor being linked or rumored for Strange. The names we've heard over the last two years include Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Dark Knight Rises, Don Jon, Inception, Looper), Johnny Depp (old meeting with Marvel), Javier Bardem (Skyfall, No Country For Old Men, The Counselor), Jon Hamm (I can confirm has met with Marvel for unnamed project) and possibly Benedict Cumberbatch (Hobbit, Star Trek Into Darkness, Sherlock, War Horse).

SOURCE: BLEEDINGCOOL

Marvel Studios Meeting With Writers And Directors For DOCTOR STRANGE

We finally have some concrete news concerning Marvel's Doctor Strange. THR reports that the studio is meeting with directors Mark Andrews (Brave, John Carter, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars), Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies), Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and Dean Israelite (Welcome To Yesterday). The plan is that they will have double-duties, helping with the script as well. These names are mostly writer-directors which confirms my initial report, that the studio was looking for a director who could contribute to the script.

Kung Fu Panda franchise writers Jon Aibel and Glenn Berger are also in the mix to write the script. Marvel is likely tossing out the previous script from Conan The Barbarian's Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer. That original draft leaked, and some of it's plot was revealed by LatinoReview. It had was reported that Marvel was possibly doing page-one rewrites, and this confirms that talk. Having both writers and a director close to deals, could mean the film might be ready to be released for 2016 or 2017. Falling inline with Kevin Feige's statements, Strange would be apart of Phase Three.

If I had to choose a front-runner or my favorite of the bunch, it would be Oscar winning director Mark Andrews. He previously co-wrote and co-directed Pixar's Brave (earning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature), film nerds champion anyone involved with the animation studio. He understands supernatural worlds writing for Star Wars: Clone Wars, Samurai Jack, and co-writing the John Carter script. Andrews also might be the type of director to give us something we won't be expecting and give audiences (including children) a fun ride. Not to mention giving us strong female characters, which is surely needed in this project. If Marvel doesn't land him, I have a feeling Lucasfilm will give him a call.





SOURCE: THR