The director of Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson, was determined to have Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role. However, it was not an easy task.
Doctor Strange is an important film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) because it explores new fascinating aspects of the universe. Scott Derrickson emphasized how crucial it was to find the right actor. Someone who could embody the mystical and complex role of Stephen Strange.
The Search for the Right Actor
Who was in the running? The first choice for the role was Benedict Cumberbatch. Derrickson was convinced of his talent and traveled to London to convince him in person. But there was a problem: Cumberbatch had already committed to playing Hamlet in the London theater. Therefore, his schedule did not align with Marvel Studios’ planned release date. Doctor Strange was originally set to premiere in the summer – on July 8, 2016 – as a blockbuster.
Release Delay for Cumberbatch
What did Disney do to get Cumberbatch? Joker star Joaquin Phoenix was also cast as an alternative for the role. But when the casting talks fell through, Derrickson was determined to get Cumberbatch on board, even if it meant delaying the release and sacrificing potential profits.
He says the following:
“[…] We have to move the date [release] because it has to be Benedict.” Kevin [Feige, President of Marvel Studios] went to Bob Iger [CEO of Disney] and Alan Horn [former Chief Creative Officer at Disney] and told them what I had said. You have to give them credit for moving the date and turning it into a fall film.
Scott Derrickson in an exclusive interview with SlashFilm
After some negotiations, the studio eventually agreed to postpone the release date of Doctor Strange to give Cumberbatch time to fulfill his theater commitments. It was a risky decision, but Derrickson firmly believed that Cumberbatch was the right choice.
In the end, it came down to the fact that the executives at Disney knew they would make less money with the film, but provided me as a director with the right actor for the film
, Derrickson says.
Success at the Box Office
How successful was the film? The film premiered on October 26, 2016. Even though Doctor Strange could have made even more profit in the summer, it was still more than worth it. Doctor Strange became a box office success and Benedict Cumberbatch established himself as one of the main stars of the MCU.
According to CBR, during the release weekend of Doctor Strange, they made 85 million dollars. This is one of the most successful releases of the MCU so far. The film grossed over 677 million US dollars worldwide at the box office.
The story behind the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange shows that sometimes sacrifices
must be made to achieve the best for a project.
Derrickson and the studio were willing to forgo potential profits to get the right actor. Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Doctor Strange is loved by fans.
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