Doctor Strange and Marvel’s Phase 3

Take your seats, class is in session.

You’ll notice a guest speaker with the Professor today. That’s right, the Big Boss is sitting in today as we discuss some of the upcoming things we’re hearing rumors about with Marvel’s Phase 3.

Class is in session (The Professor)

So the Boss and I have been talking about and forth about some of the things coming up, some of the rumors being thrown about, and wanted to get some things up for our readers related to those rumors. So that each of the items get their proper due, we’re going to break this all down into 3 parts. We’ll discuss Doctor Strange, the Black Panther, and this new possibility that Marvel may step in and help Sony with the Spider-man franchise. Today, we start with the Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Stephen Strange.

For me, I’m kind of looking forward to this one because it’s a little different from the other movies so far. This character will move us away from science and technology into the mystic and magical, which I’m a big fan of. I never read many of his comics, but I have always been a big fan of the character and can’t wait to see how it’s going to be done. I do kind of like the rumors that they won’t be doing a full back story in the movie, as I tend to think they slow the movies down a bit, but I do worry that it may lose some people. It’s such a niche type character that I think it may confuse those who really don’t know who it is. As always, however, I trust Marvel and the way they have made everything else work so well.

Now, who do I think should play the Sorcerer Supreme? I may be the only person who is actually glad that Joaquin Phoenix turned it down. I just don’t feel like he is the right person for this part. I honestly feel this should go to someone a little less known, someone who only has a few credits to their name. Give them the chance to take on this character and bring it to the forefront. It’s not a role that needs an actor who is considered top shelf. Yes, it’s getting its own movie, but it really is a secondary character in this world. So with that, I have two choices I think would be good:

Tom Mison – Mison plays Ichabod Crane on Sleepy Hollow and I really enjoy his performance there. Outside of his British accent, I can pretty much see his playing almost the same character as Stephen Strange. They have some very strong similarities. And looks wise? He absolutely has the right look. He is also that lesser known actor who I believe would thrive in a role like this, a chance to become a big name in not only the Marvel Universe, but in Hollywood.

Jack Huston – Best known for his role as Richard Harrow (the half-face soldier) from Boardwalk Empire, Huston is also a great actor. His kills it (literally and acting wise) in Boardwalk. He was even a slightly lesser play in American Hustle (he plays the guy Jennifer Lawrence cheats on Christian Bale with) and was also very good in that. He’s another of those lesser known guys that I believe would take this role by the horns, and crush it. Give him the chance to prove he can carry a film, and I bet you he runs all the way with it.

Step into the Boardroom (The Big Boss)

Here we are yet again. Another day, another meeting. The good news is we’re talking about Marvel! I love it! Now these post that will be coming up, in the next few days even, the Professor here have been written prior to the Marvel Press conference that happened Tuesday. So, my little spiel and the contents of part 3 of this series are going to be written post-conference. Got it? Good. Moving on to the topic at hand….

Doc Strange! Now I’m not as well-versed in this story as I am in others (ahem…  Black Panther), but it’s Marvel all the same. I believe, with the Doctor’s appearances in my favorite comic book based cartoons and even a pretty decent animated film, Strange will be a fun story to tell. Especially with all the news of film genre being Horror (that’s different for a superhero flick). We’ve all heard the news that Cumberbatch is in final NEGOTIATIONS with Marvel for the role. The thing is: if he’s cast as Strange we have to, as always, wait to hear it from the horse’s mouth. So, with that, we can still make predictions, even though I’m pretty sure they are going to go with Benedict.

That being said, I’m only going to fan cast for the Doc and the Ancient one since they are integral to the story.

Doctor Strange

I’ve been a fan of Caviezel for a long time. From Count of Monte Christo, to Passion of the Christ, & to the now Person of Interest. He has an excellent ability as an actor and, I think, would be able to pull off the arrogance and, then, humility of Steven Strange. I’d be interested to see what he brings to the table.

Viggo has had a steady career in a variety of different roles and each time I see him on the screen he just kills it. He’s got this every-man energy to him that can put him in any situation. I’d love to see how he handles an action horror genre.

I’m going with the Professor on this one. Mison is tearing it up on Fox’s new action horror Sleepy Hollow, and I have to say the ability he brings is most refreshing. He carries the man in a foreign land act pretty well and it would be nice to see Marvel cast a newcomer to their stories.

The Ancient One

Erick Avari is not a newcommer to the fantasy, scifi, adventure genre so something of this style would be right up his alley. He’s a bit of a different pick than most would go for this role but I love his ability and think he could bring something to the role of Strange’s mentor that audiences could really get into.

Kim has had his skin in the game for a minute. What I like about the characters he plays is that they all have an eccentric warmth to them. I would love to see this aspect of his ability translated over into the Ancient One.

Tagawa has a knack for playing the coldest of the cold when it comes to villians, but in his candid photos he seems like the most laid back guy in the world. I guess you have to be having spent a lot of time in southern California and Hawaii. I’d love to see him bring this calm and collected attitude to the Ancient One. It would be interesting to see him play off the incredible things that we’ll see in this action horror film with a “seen it all before” mentality.

So that’s what we have for part one of this three-piece article. Stick with us for parts 2 and 3, we have plenty more to say.

Until next time…

Class dismissed.