It was a beautiful validation for comic book fans everywhere when the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew so unstoppable that some of the trippiest and hardest-to-adapt characters were finally able to star in their own franchises, with A-list actors to boot. None have been weirder thanDoctor Strange. And now, It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of the Sorcerer Supreme, who Steve Ditko and Stan Lee introduced in the pages of Strange Tales back in the summer of 1963. But things could have turned out a lot different.
As things got cooking for Marvel’s Phase 3, there were a slew of big name actors in contention for the magical role ofDoctor Stephen Strange. And a few A listers came very close to signing that contract. As Marvel puts it, Benedict Cumberbatch was always the first choice. But we’re not so sure about that, as one particular actor was very close to being announced at Comic-Con, though said actor couldn’t quite pull the trigger. So, today, we look at him and 9 other actors who were almost in Marvel’sDoctor Strange.
7Joaquin Phoenix
By all accounts, the role of Doctor Strange belonged toJoaquin Phoenix, an Oscar nominee forThe Master,Walk the Line, andGladiator, if he wanted it. The longtime vegan and younger brother of the late River Phoenix considered taking the part, but ultimately found the long term commitment and heavy creative input of so many people behind-the-scenes involved with these kind of pictures too restrictive. He hasn’t ruled out joining the major franchise world someday, but this wasn’t the time.
6Jared Leto
Shortly after Phoenix’s official exit from the conversation, another vegan actor campaigned heavily for the role of Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts.Jared Leto didn’t end up entering the MCU, but landed one of the biggest roles in the DCEU instead. In 2016,Suicide Squadopened just a few months before Doctor Strange.
5Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac had already landed a then still somewhat mysterious role inStar Wars: The Force Awakens, so the folks at Disney who own both Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios were clearly already fans. He did end up starring in one of the movies from the mutant-centric mini-Marvel Universe controlled by Fox, playing the titular villain named in the title of the tepidly receivedX-Menfranchise sequel,X-Men: Apocalypse.
4Ewan McGregor
Oscar Isaac wasn’t the only actor part of the canon of the galaxy far, far away to have a shot against Dormammu of the Dark Dimension as Stephen Strange.Doctor Strangewould have beenEwan McGregor’s first major tentpole franchisesince theStar Warsprequels, had he and Marvel ever moved past the discussion phase.
3Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaugheyhas had a few brushes with the Marvel Universe, most notably when he was offered the part of Ego the Living Planet inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. But Variety reported he was one of the big name actors in consideration forDoctor Strange, ‘though he was mum about this particular role.
2Ethan Hawke
In the same report, Variety said that Ethan Hawke chased after the role both before and after Marvel was said to be close to closing a deal with Joaquin Phoenix. He’d worked withDoctor Strangedirector Scott Derrickson before, on the movieSinister. In a 2015 podcast interview with MTV News, Hawke said he had “a sneaky suspicion that Scott wanted me for that,” while noting the huge time commitment necessary for the promotion work around a movie like Strange. Nevertheless, he added, “We’re living in the age of Marvel,” saying he’s “totally open to doing something like that.”
1Jake Gyllenhaal
Years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off with the firstIron Man, Jake Gyllenhaal nearly joined a Marvel Comics film. After aSeabiscuitrelated back injury threatened to sideline Tobey Maguire from starring in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man 2, Gyllenhaal was so close to stepping in, he’d even been to a form of “spider camp” to get in shape for the role. Sources put him on the shortlist for the role ofDoctor Strange. The only massively budgeted movies Gyllenhaal had in his filmography wereThe Day After Tomorrowand the poorly receivedPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Of course, there was more than one role to cast for this movie. While many fans were understandably focused on who would wear the Cloak of Levitation, there were meetings happening for the rest of theDoctor Strangeroster, too. The shortlist for the role of the Ancient One, the mentor and teacher who ended up played by Tilda Swinton, was said to include Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe, and Bill Nighy.
