A full six months after Marvel penned its Doctor Strange wishlist, the rumors have been exchanged for reality: Benedict Cumberbatch is officially on board for the lead role in the project.
The Sherlock/Hobbit star, a popular fixture on Tumblr for his razor-sharp cheekbones and general resemblance to an otter, was welcomed by a Marvel press release late Thursday.
“Stephen Strange’s story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity,” said Producer Kevin Feige. “In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character.”
Contract negotiations between Cumberbatch and Marvel reportedly began almost two months ago, despite earlier rumors that Johnny Depp, Tom Hardy, or Jared Leto might’ve snagged the role. While some fans were… well, fans of the arrangement, others were more vocally opposed, citing a certain amount of “Cumberbatch fatigue” which the Daily Dot’s Gavia Baker-Whitelaw expertly explained here.
"Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange!" Accurate GIF reaction of me reading this while eating my food: http://t.co/4p4NgsjvoT
— Johna (@holajohna) December 4, 2014
https://twitter.com/tinytempest/status/526811508303740930
CUMBERBATCH AS DR. STRANGE!!!! dreams do come true
— Dom Fera (@DominicFear) October 27, 2014
Of course, Cumberbatch is no stranger to enraged fans; a very long line of disappointed ladies formed after the actor’s engagement announcement last month.
Doctor Strange is slated for a Nov. 4, 2016, release. Also on the docket for 2016 is the ever-popular Deadpool, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Photo via bellaphon/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)