After Joaquin Phoenix apparently dropped out of starring in Marvel’s Doctor Strange earlier this month, I’ll be honest, I was a little disappointed. Seeing one of the absolute best actors working today taking on a lead role in a Marvel film was just too damn appetizing a prospect, but now the more I think about it, the less flexibility Phoenix would have had in the acting roles he could have chosen and him passing is probably for the best. There has been much speculation (too much if you ask me) in the past month over who would now be taking over the role, and we may now have our answer: Benedict Cumberbatch.

Deadline is reporting that Cumberbatch and Marvel are in final negotiations for him to take on the lead role of Doctor Strange, but it’s probably best if we wait til the contract is officially signed to feel absolutely confident that this is happening. After all, the same was reported in regards to Phoenix a few months back.

Scott Derrickson (Sinister) will be directing Doctor Strange from a script by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) and many expect it to take one of Marvel’s already announced 2016 release dates. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop when more Doctor Strange news comes our way.

Source: Deadline