Dr. Strange - Benedict Cumberbatch Cast!

[The Nth Doctor]

With every bit of news (Mads Mikkelsen officially cast) and photos, the more excited I get. I haven't been this excited about a Marvel film since the first Avengers. I cannot wait!

Some are speculating the green gem in Strange's amulet is an infinity gem

For those that are keeping tabs that's 5 out of 6 so far we know

Space Stone (Blue): Housed in the Tesseract. Now currently sent back to Asgard

Mind Stone (Yellow): Used to be in Loki's staff. Now it's in Vision's forehead

Reality Stone (Red): Formed by the Dark Elf Malekith into a fluid-like weapon called the Aether, it is entrusted to the Collector at the end of Thor: The Dark World.

Power Stone (Purple): Entrusted to the Nova Corps for safekeeping.

I highly suspect that if it is an Infinity Gem, it'll be the Soul Gem.

 

[TheSeeker]

The side hair swoops are a nice finishing touch.

I thought so too.

 

[JD]

If that is the Eye of Agamatto around his his neck, then it sounds like it might be the time gem, going by what Kevin Feige said to EW (link is to IGN's story).
I was looking through Doctor Strange's enemies on Wikipedia, and I found a evil sorcerer named Mister Rasputin. I know he's not the same nationality as Mads Mikkelsen, but he sounds like he could be a possibility for his role.

 

[Skywalker]

I was looking through Doctor Strange's enemies on Wikipedia, and I found a evil sorcerer named Mister Rasputin. I know he's not the same nationality as Mads Mikkelsen, but he sounds like he could be a possibility for his role.

If that's who they went with, then I hope they make him Rasputin and not just some guy claiming to be a descendant of Rasputin. I think it'd be way more interesting, especially if the Time Gem is involved.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

I've never really cared for the character so I'm mainly interested because it's part of the MCU and I'm a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch. He really does look right for the part based on that picture.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I still don't think Cumberbatch himself has the right look for Strange. Not angular enough. I think Eric Balfour would make a great Strange (based on looks, anyway-- not sure how he could handle the part itself).

 

[TheSeeker]

That's because he's not an awesome facial hair bro yet.

Awesome facial hair bros.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Not forgetting that they're both Sherlock Holmes.

Wonder if there's a role for Johnny Lee Miller in the MCU?

 

[Mage]

I still don't think Cumberbatch himself has the right look for Strange. Not angular enough. I think Eric Balfour would make a great Strange (based on looks, anyway-- not sure how he could handle the part itself).

I will never understand this fixation with 'the look' of the character. I care far more about a well written character and the acting than the looks.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Probably because people have a tendency to look like how they look. Unless you're doing a radio show, it matters.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

That and this film (and others like it) is adopting a visual medium.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I like the fact that Patrick Stewart pretty much looks like the comic Prof X come to life, ditto Henry Cavill as Superman.

But Ian McKellen looks nothing like comic Magneto. Comic Tony Stark always looked more like Errol Flynn or Timothy Dalton than RDJ. Mark Ruffalo looks nothing like comic Bruce Banner. Yet all of them have been superb in their respective roles. And I don't think Patrick Stewart or Henry Cavill's obvious resemblance to their respective characters would be so important had they flubbed the actual performances.

So, yes, it's pretty cool when you see an actor play a comic book character and they look just like the comic book come to life. But it's not the be-all and end-all.

 

[Mage]

I like the fact that Patrick Stewart pretty much looks like the comic Prof X come to life, ditto Henry Cavill as Superman.

But Ian McKellen looks nothing like comic Magneto. Comic Tony Stark always looked more like Errol Flynn or Timothy Dalton than RDJ. Mark Ruffalo looks nothing like comic Bruce Banner. Yet all of them have been superb in their respective roles. And I don't think Patrick Stewart or Henry Cavill's obvious resemblance to their respective characters would be so important had they flubbed the actual performances.

So, yes, it's pretty cool when you see an actor play a comic book character and they look just like the comic book come to life. But it's not the be-all and end-all.

This. I never said it's not a part of it. But they could cast someone who's the spitting image of a character from the comics, if the writing and acting sucks, I'm not convinced. So yeah, RDJ might not look exactly like Tony in the comics, the character is spot on, I feel.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I'm rather tickled by the fact that two of the biggest ever casting kerfuffles were, firstly, when Michael Keaton got cast as Batman and a pre-Internet fandom objected, as he looked nothing like Batman (as well as his comedy background, in fairness). The second was over Ben Affleck. Who, with his thick black hair, square jaw, 6'4" height and brick-shithouse build looks exactly like comic Batman!

 

[RJDiogenes]

That and this film (and others like it) is adopting a visual medium.

True enough.

But Ian McKellen looks nothing like comic Magneto. Comic Tony Stark always looked more like Errol Flynn or Timothy Dalton than RDJ. Mark Ruffalo looks nothing like comic Bruce Banner. Yet all of them have been superb in their respective roles. And I don't think Patrick Stewart or Henry Cavill's obvious resemblance to their respective characters would be so important had they flubbed the actual performances.

It seems to me that all of those actors have a pretty good resemblance to the characters. Bruce Banner is easy; he's got kind of a generic look to begin with.

 

[Anwar]

I'm rather tickled by the fact that two of the biggest ever casting kerfuffles were, firstly, when Michael Keaton got cast as Batman and a pre-Internet fandom objected, as he looked nothing like Batman (as well as his comedy background, in fairness). The second was over Ben Affleck. Who, with his thick black hair, square jaw, 6'4" height and brick-shithouse build looks exactly like comic Batman!

In both cases, it was less their appearance and more doubts over their acting abilities in the role.

The biggest concern with Keaton wasn't that he didn't look like Wayne (that's just one excuse), but that they didn't think a comedian could pull off the role (understandable).

Affleck has the same problem. It's not his looks, it's that people aren't sure from his past films if he can pull off something acceptable so soon after Christian Bale. Especially since he left a bad impression after Daredevil.

If it were merely down to looks, then Jeremy Irons would be getting similar treatment for his casting as Alfred. But since he's respected as the great actor he is, there's not a problem.

 

[Venardhi]

In defense of fanboys in the 80s, and in spite of my love of the Burton Batman movies in my youth, I still don't think Keaton was a great choice to play the character. Burton wasn't really trying to make a Batman movie though, when it came down to it. He was doing his own thing with the trappings of Batman stapled on and Keaton worked just fine for that.

 

[TheSeeker]

^I'd agree with that assessment.

 

[kirk55555]

Well, i'd say that, while not perfect, keaton is the best serious Batman in live action. He was certainly better than Clooney or Kilmer, and a LOT better than Christian Bale.

 

[Venardhi]

They all have their flaws. Burton did his weird shit, Shumacher did his goofy neon shit and Nolan did his thing. None of them were great Batman movies (Batman Begins comes the closest for me, minus the weak ending), and in the end none of them were very true to the comic character. Mask of the Phantasm remains my favorite Batman movie.