Joaquin Phoenix Being Considered For Doctor Strange

It was only yesterday that Benedict Cumberbatch deflated all hopes that he would be donning the Cloak of Levitation.  Today, via The Wrap, we find out that Marvel Studios is interested in casting three-time Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix as Doctor Strange.  Sources close to the casting process have told The Wrap that Phoenix’s name has been the one most mentioned during pitch meetings.

Joaquin Phoenix started his acting career on television in 1982’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  He then quickly ventured into film when he joined the cast of SpaceCamp in 1986.  Phoenix’s early on-screen appearances had him credited as Leaf Phoenix.  As a way of reinventing himself in 1995, he reverted back to his given name of “Joaquin.”  As the villainous Commodus in 2000’s Gladiator, he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  He followed that success with two more Academy Award nominations for Best Actor — playing Johnny Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line and playing Freddie Quell in 2012’s The Master.  A little known fact is that this isn’t Phoenix’s first foray into comic book adaptations.  In 1989, he guest starred in the Salkind-produced Superboy TV series where he played Billy Hercules — a bullied high school genius befriended by the Boy of Steel.

Doctor Strange doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it may soon change in that Marvel Studios is likely to announce it during Comic-Con.  So far, the only other serious contender for the role is Tom Hardy.