by TIMMY
Marvel’s Phase 3 launches in a few weeks with Captain America: Civil War. You can read my breakdown of that movie here.
This movie will break new ground for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), delving into magic, mysticism and alternate realities. Iron Man dealt with weapons and tech, Captain America dealt with the super soldier serum, Thor is the a god from norse mythology, Ant-Man has shrinking technology and the Guardians of the Galaxy are set in space.
It’s promising to see that eight years and two phases into the franchise, Marvel is still producing origin stories. Strange will be brought to life by the talented Benedict Cumberbatch. We knew from The Winter Soldier that Doctor Strange existed in this Universe, after a Hydra agent name dropped him when discussing potential enemies to their cause. It seems then that we will end the movie with a the Sorcerer Supreme in his full practice, also laying groundwork for the upcoming Infinity War.
So who exactly is Strange? Let’s go through the trailer.
Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange was an egotistical neurosurgeon who only cared about making money and was naturally a man of science. From the teaser trailer, we see that the movie will stick to the comics – Strange loses the use of his hands after a car accident shatters the bones in both hands, which causes them to tremble uncontrollably. Lacking humility, he refuses to become a teacher and exhausts all of his funds travelling the world to find a cure, t0 no avail.
Strange comes across the Ancient One (the current Sorcerer Supreme of Earth) in his travels, and it seems like the movie will differ from the source material. In the comics, Strange finds the Ancient One in the Himayalas, but he refuses to help Strange due to his selfishness. Baron Mordo, the Ancient One’s apprentice that is being played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in the film, attempts to kill the Ancient One and Strange intervenes. Strange fails, naturally, and this forces Strange to selflessly to accept the Ancient’s One offer to become the new Sorcerer Supreme. Watching this trailer, it seems as if Baron Mordo is the one that leads Strange to the Ancient One, that is being played Tilda Swinton. We are still not sure if she is playing a man or woman, but regardless the talented actor is perfect for the role.
Baron Mordo being the main villian for the film would have been too predictable, as are most comic book movies, so it’s appreciated that Mads Mikkelson (who has an important role in the upcoming Star Wars film as well) was casted as a separate villain. Many though that he will be played Strange’s main antagonist, Dormammu, who is the ruler of the Dark Dimension, but he could be saved for Doctor Strange 2. Mads may be portraying Satannish, who is the physical extension of Dormammu’s will, because Dormammu cannot inhabit Earth’s dimension.
Scott Derrickson is the director for this film, and he’s known mostly as a supernatural horror producer. He’s a perfect fit for a movie that will “take you on a mind trip” according to all involved. Above you can see multiple realities occurring at once, which brings back memories of Inception.
Just like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man before it, Doctor Strange will introduce fans to a different kind of Marvel movie, and I have no reason to see it not being successful. Expect the first official trailer to show more details, like Doctor Strange being fully robed.
