Before Benedict Cumberbatch suited up to play the lead in “Doctor Strange,” Marvel cast a long look at almost every eligible actor in Hollywood. Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Oscar Isaac, Ewan McGregor, Matthew McConaughey, Jake Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Joaquin Phoenix and Keanu Reeves were all said to be under consideration at various points, and yes, even Ryan Gosling. The last choice might not seem like the right fit to play a superhero sorcerer, but concept artist Court Chu makes the case.
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The artist admits that his time on the project was fleeting, but he was working with Marvel just long enough to put these images together. “I worked probably not even a day on some version of ‘Doctor Strange’ years ago, and back then they wanted Gosling,” he wrote on his blog (via Collider).
You can see the result below, and let’s just say, we’re glad Cumberbatch got the gig.