One of the most intriguing projects on Marvel’s packed slate is Doctor Strange, which will see Benedict Cumberbatch play the brilliant but arrogant surgeon who, after a freak accident that leaves his hands useless, turns to the world of magic and alternate dimensions to heal himself.
We recently reported on Marvel changing things up a bit from the comics by casting Tilda Swinton as the traditionally male character The Ancient One. But the studio certainly isn’t stopping there.
Deadline reports that Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, who joined the cast back in January, will be playing the character of Baron Mardo, one of the primary villains in the comic series in which he first appeared in 1963. But it’s interesting to note that rather than being the outright enemy as is usually the case with Marvel adaptations, he will be an amalgamation of sorts, drawing from different sources to make a new version of the character (you can hear the Marvel fanboy hisses and boos from here!).
Mardo will tie into the main backstory of the plot as in the comics both he and Strange were mentored by The Ancient One. The division happens when Strange foils Mardo’s attempts to kill their teacher. The character’s atrributes include teleportation, astral projection, hypnotism and the ability to conjure demons.
How much of that makes it to the big-screen portrayal remains to be seen but Ejiofor is certainly intriguing casting. The actor will next be seen in post-apocalyptic drama Z For Zachariah and Ridley Scott’s The Martian.
Directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister), Doctor Strange will be released on October 28th, 2016.
Source: Deadline