As the magazine promised, Entertainment Weekly has released more pictures of Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel’s Doctor Strange, scheduled for release on November 4, 2016. Along with the photographs, they also promised the revelation of who Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) will be playing and… it’s a description, not a name. Mikkelsen will be playing a sorcerer who has broken away from the main group of magic users in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who considers the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and his/her acolytes to be misusing and hoarding all the power. Marvel does call him the main villain, so… that could still be Dormammu, but probably not. What is interesting is that Scott Derrickson’s film already has a well-known Strange foe in the cast — Baron Mordo, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. It seems a canny move to delay the gratification on his turning evil.
In addition to the photographs of Cumberbatch in his garb and wearing the All-Seeing Eye of Agamotto, Marvel/Disney has given the magazine three concept paintings: the astral realm, what looks like the Sanctum Sanctorum, and Stephen Strange in the hospital learning his hands had been shattered in a car accident. All these paintings had been shown at D23, along with several others that will make for a great Art of Doctor Strange coffee table book next Christmas.
