Scott Derrickson Tapped To Direct Doctor Strange
By Steve Lam
Scott Derrickson is close to a deal to direct Doctor Strange — a movie starring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. The film will be part of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Though familiar to comic book fans, Doctor Strange is a much lesser known character to the layman. The character’s origins are that of a brilliant, arrogant neurosurgeon, Stephen Vincent Strange, who only strives for wealth and fame. Sound familiar? If Tony Stark comes to mind, you’re not alone. Though their initial attitudes are similar, their quests and routes in becoming heroes are quite different. Strange’s journey to heroism starts when he’s involved in a horrible car accident that damages his hands beyond repair. He searches the world for a miracle remedy so that he can continue his medical practice. Strange eventually finds a hermit, the Ancient One, in the Himalayas. Initially refusing to teach Strange his mystic powers due to Strange’s selfishness, the Ancient One has a change of heart when Strange saves him from being murdered. As Strange becomes the Ancient One’s disciple, he encounters various entities who will later become part of his rogues gallery.
It’s still a mystery as to how Marvel Studios will handle magic within their universe. All of the films, so far, have dealt with science fiction. Doctor Strange will be the first movie in the series to explore supernatural topics.
If there’s any hint as to how Marvel will handle the genre of Doctor Strange, it seems that they may take a slight horror angle due to their interest in Mr. Derrickson. A rising talent in Hollywood, Derrickson has directed The Exorcism of Emily Rose and, more recently, Sinister. Both were horror films that scared up quite a healthy profit at the box office.
As for the titular character himself, there have been online petitions to cast either Patrick Dempsey (Dr. Derek Sheppard on Grey’s Anatomy) or Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish on Game of Thrones).