Who should play Marvel's Doctor Strange?
The top candidates we think would make a good Sorcerer Supreme
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The Doctor is in...
Doctor Strange, the mightiest magician in the Marvel universe, is now ready to (possibly) make the leap to the big-screen, where he'll sit alongside other recent in-house productions from Marvel like "Iron Man," "Thor," and, soon, "The Avengers." But Doctor Strange isn't your typical superhero, casting spells instead of using superpowers. Take a look at this short-list of potential stars we came up with to play the character and cast your vote for each candidate.
Photo Credit: Marvel
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Next 47 CommentsMax
August 9, 2011 at 1:54AM EST Reply to CommentWow, some of these choices are just awful. Duhamel? Krasinski (I was behind him for Cap, but not Dr. Strange)? Holy crap.
On the other hand, Stephen Moyer is inspired and John Hawkes is a fantastic "never would have thought of it" dark horse candidate. Good work there.
The one name I'm surprised I didn't see was Jim Caviezel. If you watch the version of "Count of Monte Cristo" he did with Guy Pearce, there's a scene where he's making his debut as the fictitious Count that freaking SCREAMS Dr. Strange. He's been my #1 pick ever since...although I love the idea of Moyer, the more I think of it.
August 9, 2011 at 2:21AM ESTKPM Why, Greg? Because he's religious? Catholic? Please, enlighten us.
August 9, 2011 at 6:31AM ESTShaun His religious freakiness is reason enough to want to cast him. That, and he's just a lousy actor. That remake of "The Prisoner" was terrible, apart from Ian McKellan's involvement.
August 9, 2011 at 8:43AM ESTRay His Christianity has nothing to do with it. I've met the guy and numerous occasions and Caviezel is full of himself with a serious Jesus complex. That being said, I still want to watch Persons of Interest, but only for Ben Linus. :)
August 9, 2011 at 9:53AM ESTDezbot I got to look into Caviezel's eyes at the "Person of Interest" signing at Comic-Con and there's no there there. He was a little odd, to say the least.
August 9, 2011 at 10:55AM ESTMichael Emerson, OTOH, is a great guy. And yes, I'm basing this all on a few minutes with him :-)
LL
August 9, 2011 at 2:18AM EST Reply to CommentMatt Bomer or Pat Dempsey!
Shaun Dempsey's honestly not a bad choice... I read somewhere that he's actually interested in the part too. Matt Bomer's also not a terrible choice. Daniel Day Lewis is another good pick (assuming he'd want to do it). Many of the other choices here, however (Nic Cage? Honestly?) are just awful.
August 9, 2011 at 8:47AM ESTI am a little surprised Johnny Depp's name wasn't mentioned. Am I sick of him? Yeah... But mostly because of the "Pirates" movies. Give him something else to do, and maybe he'll stop slumming. I could imagine Depp being a distraction, because he's Johnny Depp, but I could also imagine him disappearing into the part and giving a great performance.
Bradley Valentine
August 9, 2011 at 3:22AM EST Reply to CommentNo Mark Strong? Wow. But there are some interesting suggestions. I think Patrick Dempsy would be a disaster. And Krasinski is embarrassing. Boomer is too young. All of these guys I just mentioned are too young. Or too young looking. Daniel Day Lewis would be ideal as well as Javier Bardem. Nic Cage would be interesting but maybe he would play it too Fu Machchu (sp?)
If they do skew young, Ben Foster might be cool. Michael Shannon, too. Stephen Moyer would be a good sign of middle of the road b.s. though I do like him as Vampire Bill. Jim Sturgess seems like a good choice for another character, not this one.
Bradley Valentine
August 9, 2011 at 3:24AM EST Reply to CommentAlso. Gregory, what are those Caviezel stories?
SocialAssassin
August 9, 2011 at 5:51AM EST Reply to CommentMy two cents - Timothy Olyphant.
Heetmizer I'm down with that, I think he could pull it off.
December 14, 2012 at 12:25PM ESTJoePos
August 9, 2011 at 8:14AM EST Reply to CommentDavid Strathairn. Dr. Strange was always a bit older than the rest of the Marvel heroes. Plus, who doesn't like David Strathairn?
alexd I like Statham as much as the next guy,(probably more) but I just don't believe he'd ever be an actual surgeon. Just saw James franco in "Apes" last night and, no, that guy's not genius neuroscientist. Woody Harrelson's not a brilliant architect... etc etc. Statham is tops in all ass-kicking related departments, but I sure wouldn't want him working on me with a scalpel
August 9, 2011 at 10:15AM ESTDezbot Statham and Strathairn are different guys.
August 9, 2011 at 10:54AM EST
August 9, 2011 at 2:10PM ESTalexd oooh I go on here way too early in the mornings, you are correct, Strathairn is a different person, but I think he needs a little more asskick to be a superhero, so the inverse of what I said about Statham
August 9, 2011 at 7:57PM ESTAnde If you're gonna have a superhero who doesn't seem like one it would be dr. strange though so that might work in his favor.
May 30, 2012 at 10:36PM ESTMatt
August 9, 2011 at 8:56AM EST Reply to CommentSome really good suggestions here. I really like Jim Caviezel, Timothy Olyphant and David Strathairn. Jepos is correct - the actor does not have to be too young. In fact if they are and try to make him look older I think it could take something away from the character. David is a very smooth, experienced actor. I think he would do a great job. But Max is right. It's scarry how much Jim Caviezel looked like the Doctor in COMC. But I'm guessing Tim Olyphant is in the best shape of the group and would handle the physical requirements of the gig the best. Please don't cast a comedic actor though - like Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan. I enjoyed the movie but ...
Madlogic
August 9, 2011 at 10:31AM EST Reply to CommentGotta go with Timothy Olyphant on this one. A very talented and consistently great actor.
Wedge74
August 9, 2011 at 10:38AM EST Reply to CommentSomebody that is at least 35 would be a step in the right direction.
Hugo Weaving?
George Clooney?
Ioan Gruffudd?
velocityknown
August 9, 2011 at 10:40AM EST Reply to CommentMichael Raymond-James
velocityknown I also like the John Hawkes idea. A lot. Raymond-James is relatively unknown, proven good actor, and he's only 33 but can definitely have an older look, I think.
August 9, 2011 at 10:41AM ESTmel
August 9, 2011 at 11:44AM EST Reply to Commenthenry cavill
loogenhausen
August 9, 2011 at 11:51AM EST Reply to CommentI'm not the biggest fan of Johnny Depp, but he is born for this role. Watch the Ninth Gate, he looks just like Strange pretty much. I can't believe he wasn't even on this list.
August 9, 2011 at 2:11PM ESTklg19
August 9, 2011 at 11:51AM EST Reply to CommentI dunno: I look at that illustration in the first image and the first name that comes to MY mind is Stephen Colbert.
Andrew L
August 9, 2011 at 12:55PM EST Reply to CommentGuy Pearce.
Lucky
August 9, 2011 at 3:06PM EST Reply to CommentViggo Mortensen or Pierce Brosnan might work as well.
Grooves Tansurva
August 9, 2011 at 4:05PM EST Reply to CommentSeveral of these guys have the look of Strange, or at least could be made into a close approximation. But the only guy with the charisma and the voice isn't on this list: Mark Strong.
Mtm73
August 9, 2011 at 5:29PM EST Reply to CommentJosh Brolin. Duh.
chaburchak
August 9, 2011 at 5:31PM EST Reply to CommentI always thought Pierce Brosnan would make a good Dr. Strange, or Alexander Siddiq of DEEP SPACE 9. But I do like that John Hawkes idea...
gumma
August 9, 2011 at 6:05PM EST Reply to CommentI'm sorry to say, 90% of the list is not even to be considered, it's just laughable. There are WAY better candidates out there, like Josh Brolin, Jim Caviezel, Johnny Depp (another longshot one), Timothy Olyphant, even Alex O'Loughlin. Whoever compiled this should have put way more thought into it.
Yancy Walker
August 9, 2011 at 6:55PM EST Reply to CommentEric Balfour or Jim Cavieze.
DougMac
August 9, 2011 at 8:27PM EST Reply to CommentSome awful choices in the article. I always thought Rufus Sewell was a perfect fit, but up and coming Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC's Sherlock Holmes) is a good fit for if they go younger
net97surferQ
August 9, 2011 at 11:08PM EST Reply to CommentI always thought Johnny Depp circa 1999 in the movie "The Ninth Gate" -- he had a definite "Steven Strange" look. Now, after all the Pirate films and wonky Alice.. not sure how he'd do/look in it.
Lyrad
August 9, 2011 at 11:47PM EST Reply to CommentI'm surprised no one mentioned James Marsters. He'd make a cool Dr. Strange
An4h0ny
August 10, 2011 at 10:54AM EST Reply to CommentHUGH LAURIE. And you're done.
Giant Fish
August 11, 2011 at 5:37AM EST Reply to CommentDavid Tennant, the best strange Doctor ever!
paul
August 11, 2011 at 8:09AM EST Reply to CommentI say they go with a no body like they did with Thor... No one in Hollywood you have thought of would be any good. everyone listed is one amazingly a bad choice.
PK
August 11, 2011 at 8:14AM EST Reply to CommentE D W A R D N O R T O N ! ! !
PK
August 11, 2011 at 8:18AM EST Reply to CommentIoan Gruffudd, hell they are rebooting Fantastic Four, and they used the human Torch for CAP. America so why not use Mr. Fantastic as Dr. Strange
paul
August 11, 2011 at 7:49PM EST Reply to CommentI like the idea of Timothy Olyphant as well ; although both Patrick Dempsey - who has said he wants the role - & Nathan Fillion would be good choices as well.If he can do a decent American accent, James Nesbitt would also be a first rate choice.As would Alan Rickman.
jrwt54
August 12, 2011 at 10:18PM EST Reply to CommentChoices are awful for Dr. Strange. I suggest Oded Fehr; he would be perfect.
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