Last time Joaquin Phoenix found his name mentioned with regard to a superhero movie it was rumors he’d be playing Lex Luthor in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, a role that eventually went to Jesse Eisenberg. Now his name is back in the trades in connection to Marvel’s Doctor Strange, which is to be directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose).
The news comes from The Wrap where it’s said Phoenix’s name is “mentioned most often” for the role and “is in consideration and has had discussions about the movie.”
Adding to the rumor, The Playlist notes tweets in which Phoenix was apparently seen in Connecticut in comic book stores purchasing “Doctor Strange” comics.
One of the comic book stores in CT had Joaquin Phoenix stop by. He was looking for Dr. Strange comics.
— KW. (@KevinInChains) July 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/TonytheNunes/statuses/491959469652582400
Meanwhile, if you thought Benedict Cumberbatch was the one taking the role, he recently told MTV it just wouldn’t work. “As far as I’m aware, even if that was the case, it couldn’t work out because I’m doing a little play called ‘Hamlet’ in London,” Cumberbatch said. “So I don’t think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”
Doctor Strange is assumed by many to be the as-yet-unannounced July 8, 2016 release from Marvel, but with so many release dates up for grabs there’s no telling when it will hit theaters.
As for the character, in the comics he’s a surgeon that suffers a life-changing car accident and eventually heads to the Himalayas, gains psychic powers and saves the day, protecting the Earth against magical and mystical threats.
