After months of speculation Marvel finally confirmed Benedict’s attachment to the role of Doctor Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon turned sorcerer who defends the planet from mysterious beings and threats after losing his ability to practice surgery following minor nerve damage to his hands . He draws his powers from mystical entities and magical artifacts to hold the title as Sorcerer Supreme and is described as the “mightiest magician in the universe”.
"Stephen Strange's story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity," said producer Kevin Feige in a statement from Marvel. "In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character.”
Scott Derrickson will direct the picture with Marvel president Feige serving as producer while Prometheus screenwriter John Spaihts has been recruited to pen the script. There’s still no word on a plot or which characters will be joining Doctor Strange, but what we do know is that we all have very good reason to be very excited when the film is released in 2016.Marvel’s announcement may have surprised Benedict’s Cumberbitches, who were concerned that their idol may not find the time to squeeze in an action-packed Marvel blockbuster in 2015. The 38-year-old, London born star is already signed on to star in five films due to begin filming next year: Black Mass, Magik, The Yellow Birds, Flying Horse, and Jungle Book: Origins; where he’ll be adding his voice to the deadly Shere Khan as well cramming in four feature length episodes, including a Christmas special of Sherlock. And then of course, Benedict also has his wedding to the delectable theatre director Sophie Hunter, with whom he announced his engagement in the Daily Telegraph in November.
He is also a firm favourite to be in the running for next year’s Best Actor trophy at The Oscar's for his role as Alan Turning in the astonishingly beautiful The Imitation Game. So with award season pretty much certain to take up the beginning of his year, where he is most likely to receive the odd Golden Globe or Screen Actors Guild award, let’s just say it’s going to take some real life sorcery from the British heartthrob to fit it all in.
We'll next see Benedict, or at least hear Benedict, as Smaug the dragon in The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies which opens in cinemas nationwide on December 12.
