Multiple reports are circulating that suggest Marvel Studios is at the very least in talks with Joaquin Phoenix to star as Doctor Strange.
There have been so many rumors circulating about who will and will not be playing which superhero that it is easy to overlook when a piece of gossip is based on substance. But going as far back as July, the name Joaquin Phoenix has been whispered with increasing frequency next to Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange film.
With a director and screenwriter already set —The Exorcism of Emily Rose’s Scott Derrickson and Prometheus’ Jon Spaihts respectively—Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige obviously has an idea of whom he wants to star in the role. Yet, when San Diego Comic-Con came and went with no casting announcement, speculation intensified around the star part.
But Thursday afternoon, the mood changed when Collider was the first to state that a source has claimed Joaquin Phoenix is in final negotiations to star in the role of Stephen Strange. Apparently drawing out longer than usual due to Phoenix’s status and creative temperament, Collider alleges that a contract with Phoenix is “at the one-yard line, about to pass into the end zone.”
Generally, we tend to steer clear of citing other publications’ solitary anonymous sources, and we still suggest that fans take this latest gossip with a healthy dose of salt. However, other reports are now breaking Thursday evening that seem to corroborate the possibility that Phoenix is in talks for the role.
As reported by EW’s equally unnamed source, “[Phoenix] is their top choice.”
Whether this means Feige is about to score a massive casting touchdown with the Academy Award nominated actor remains to be seen. But Marvel clearly has Phoenix on their mind.
We’ll keep you posted with more as it develops.
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