The past 24 to 48 hours have seen rumblings from various corners of the internet suggesting that some kind of announcement might be made by Marvel about who would be playing "Doctor Strange." And despite some prognosticators insisting that the recently rumored Joaquin Phoenix would be getting the gig… sorry folks, it ain’t happening.
Deadline reports that whatever talks might have taken place between Phoenix and Marvel are over, with the studio now starting their hunt all over again. While Phoenix is certainly an inspired choice, it probably wasn’t realistic. The actor doesn’t particularly enjoy doing press, and we’ve never known him to engage in the kind of Comic-Con style meet ‘n greet he’d need to do should Marvel. Moreover, the studio’s lengthy contractual obligations to anyone who signs up for a long term commitment as a character in the Marvel-verse probably wasn’t a good fit for someone as mercurial as Phoenix.
So, now let’s start speculating on who can take on the role. Ethan Hawke has been rumored recently by This Is Infamous, and when asked by MTV, the actor seemed into the idea. "Doctor Strange" opens on July 8, 2016.