Jon Spaihts penned what many consider to be the far superior first draft of Sir Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, and is also attached to Universal’s reboot of The Mummy franchise. However, his biggest job to date now looks set to be Doctor Strange for Marvel Studios, as Deadline reports that he is in talks for the job.
Director Scott Derrickson is attached to the movie, and he shared his thoughts on how excited he is to helm the movie in a recent interview with JoBlo (via CBM) about his latest release, Deliver Us From Evil.
“I think when you consider the work that I’ve done it makes sense that he’d be my favorite comic book character, at least in the Marvel universe. Probably the only comic character in that mainstream world that I’m suited to. I feel such an affinity for the character and the story and the ambition of those comics, especially the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko “Strange Tales” – I think those are my favorite of all of them. The entire history of the comics is extraordinary.”
Derrickson then commented on the positive reaction from fans to the news that he will helm Doctor Strange, adding that he believes now is the right time to bring the fairly obscure character (who you can learn an awful lot more about by clicking here) to the big screen for the first time.
“I think the nicest surprise for me, the most unexpected surprise, is the positive reaction. Both to me getting the film – I guess I expected the detractors, and they just haven’t been there, it’s all been quite positive. More than that, it’s just the general enthusiasm for Doctor Strange. I think people who know the comic world and the Marvel universe, they all feel the same way I do, which is, ‘This is the Marvel movie we’re all ready to see now.’ This movie needs to exist. The outpouring of excitement that people have shown is the thing I’ve been most pleasantly surprised.”
Deadline’s report about Spaihts is finished off with a very intriguing detail. Academy Award winning actor Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) has now been added to Marvel’s shortlist of actors for the role of Doctor Strange, joining previously rumoured candidates Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Things are obviously at a very early stage and it’s likely that Leto hasn’t even spoken to Marvel as of yet, but he would be an amazing choice, as would the other two mentioned!
