Doctor Strange seems to the one project in active development that Marvel isn’t willing to talk about. This year’s Comic-Con was thought to be the place where Marvel would announce the actual release date and star of the film. As we all saw, not a drop of information was revealed about the project. Despite not knowing anything about the inner workings of the production, it’s always fun to speculate who Marvel might want to play their Sorcerer Supreme. Below you’ll find a list of possible actors that I think would be more than suitable candidates for the role.
Jon Hamm
So, I have a bit of a man-crush on Jon Hamm. It’s kind of hard not to. Just look at that twinkle in his eye. Thankfully, the man can back up the good looks with his enormous talent. Finding immediate success as Don Draper in AMC’s Mad Men, Hamm is able to serenade an audience with his inspiring, and sometimes devious speeches on the hit show.
Superheroes and Hamm aren’t unfamiliar territories that have been explored before. The Mad Men star was a fan favorite to portray Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, a role that inevitably went to Henry Cavill. Despite his success with Mad Men, Hamm has struggled finding a strong vehicle to propel him to the big screen. Playing Doctor Strange would not only be the perfect way for him to kick off a film career, but it also gives him the chance of broadening his appeal among young filmgoers who might not be familiar with his work on television. Plus, have you seen that mug of his? Imagine that face with a moustache. Helllllooooo, nurse!
Mads Mikkelsen
Originally cast to play Marvel footnote Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, Danish actor Mad Mikkelsen wisely dropped out of the production in order to portray the iconic role of Hannibal Lecter in NBC’s Hannibal. Hannibal, easily one of the most critically underrated shows on television, not only showcases Mikkelsen’s obvious talent, but his ability to inhabit a character that is so eerily calm and unknowable. If that doesn’t describe Doctor Strange then I don’t know what does. Outside of Mikkelsen’s television work, he’s most recognized by American audiences for his villainous performance as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale.
If given the opportunity, I think Mikkelsen could do wonders playing a superhero immersed in a world of sorcery and incantations. It’s also worth noting he seems to be pretty familiar with ritual human sacrifices. I figure playing a character that summons demons and spirits isn’t much of a stretch for him given his taste for playing unsavory characters with a love of theatrics.
Liam Neeson
The man who only needs to look at you to scare you, Liam Neeson is probably one of the few 60+ year olds that could kick your ass and look real cool doing it. Before he became the most unlikely action-star in years, the Irish born actor had a very successful career that went as far back as the 1970s. With critically acclaimed movies like The Mission, Schindler’s List and Gangs of New York on his resume, Neeson has continuously proved he is one of the best actors of his generation.
As many comic book fans know, Neeson is no stranger to superhero movies. Having portrayed master anarchist Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises, it would be fun to see him play a heroic character in a comic book adaptation. Watching him snap a demon’s neck with one hand while hurling balls of fire with the other would be pretty cool too.
Jack Huston
Already the most recent actor to be name dropped as a possibility to take on the role of the Sorcerer Supreme, Jack Huston is an actor that can deliver an extremely dark and heartfelt performance all in one scene. Fans of Boardwalk Empire are very familiar with Huston’s role as the morally-conflicted and physically deformed hitman, Richard Harrow. Already appearing in films like American Hustle and Kill Your Darlings, the 31-year-old is an actor that needs to be the leading man in a film.
The mysterious interwebs have whispered that Huston was initially considered for the role of Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy, the character that eventually went to Chris Pratt. If Huston has already been in communication with Marvel before, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the rumored talks of possibly taking on the part of Marvel’s resident sorcerer are true.
Daniel Brühl
Even if you’re not familiar with the name, you’ve probably seen a number of his films. German actor Daniel Brühl first gained recognition for his portrayl of a Nazi “war hero” in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. Eventually gaining wide-spread recognition in Rush, a film in which he co-starred alongside Chris Hemsworth, Brühl was considered an early contender for an Academy Award for his role in the movie. While he did not receive a nomination, Brühl went on to star in The Fifth Estate and A Most Wanted Man.
Driven, talented and a love of playing emotionally troubled characters, Brühl can deliver audiences not only a charismatic Doctor Strange, but a Stephen Strange that has undergone enormous physical and psychological trauma. Even if Brühl’s chances of nabbing the part of Strange are a longshot, he deserves a mention on this list nonetheless. Although, I imagine knowing the God of Thunder doesn’t hurt his chances either.
What about you, true believer? Who do you want to see cloaked in the crimson cape of Doctor Strange? Let us know in the comments below!
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