Doctor Strange Casting Poll

[Hypestyle]

Is that animated Doc Strange movie a good intro to the character/good in general?

its a good update.. quite a bit involves swordplay (eldritch swords) as opposed to astral bolts and elaborate incantations.. allegedly, it was the "least" seller among the LionsGate productions (anybody got the Thor numbers?), and various folks diss it, but especially now I'd say its worth picking up..

 

[Anubis]

I'd rent it if I was you.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

i like that. have a potter-esque prologue showcasing a young strange seeing things that other people can't maybe tie to it into his motivation for being a doctor, then flash forward to him as an accomplished neurosurgeon .

I like this idea actually. His origin is kind of random crap if you don't flesh it out with a little extra motivation here and there.

I'd hybrid two ideas I've heard on this thread. First show him as a child interacting with the occult, like having a discussion with an "imaginary" friend (i.e. Paranormal Activity type poltergiest Dormamu. Then maybe have him be a med student with a long time girlfriend. Say they go to the fair and he wanders off and runs into a fortune teller and she tells him she knows he can contact the occult, then maybe he openly insults her and she tells him "one day the demon that follows you will take what's most precious to you". Then later, after he becomes an arrogant self assured neurosurgeon he'll no longer see or feel the occult for years. So then it all comes back at him and causes this car accident which cripples him and kills his girlfriend. So then he seeks out the Fortune Teller who leads him to the Ancient One. He works alongside Mordo, whom he learns is a disciple or Dormamu, sets up the final battle. Perhaps allow Mordo to "live", and save the full Dormamu for a sequel.

 

[Anubis]

I don't like that THE ONE boos**t. One of the best things about Strange is that he's self made. There was no destiny, no pure born aptitude to magic. He was an arrogant ass who lost everything, went from park avenue, high class muckety muck to lowly crippled begger, searching for a way back to the life he once knew, only to find something far greater. That's more than enough.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I don't like that THE ONE boos**t. One of the best things about Strange is that he's self made. There was no destiny, no pure born aptitude to magic. He was an arrogant ass who lost everything, went from park avenue, high class muckety muck to lowly crippled begger, searching for a way back to the life he once knew, only to find something far greater. That's more than enough.

I think there kind of has to be, something to make it more personal. Honestly Dr. Strange's Marvel origin is just kind of "there", and IMO is one of the weaker origins in comics. What makes Spider-Man, Captain America and Batman so effective is they make their causes exceptionally personal. I feel like there needs to be some sort of reason he defects his life of science for a magical and mystical journey. I feel like that needs a background, and there are a lot of interesting places you can go with it. It can be a religious experience, or a feeling of the occult, and these are things that people feel very personally. It would flesh out Strange very nicely IMO.

 

[Anubis]

Well, you get that from his origin. Here's a guy who lost his livelyhood. His hands. The one thing that he thought made him special. Desperate to get it back, he spends all his money on operations, tests, drugs, herbal remedies, anything to try and get it back. Finally, completely broke, he turns to religion and mysticism. Makes the loooong journey to Tibet, and finds salvation, becoming a student of the Ancient one. I mean, you want something personal, it's all right there.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Well, you get that from his origin. Here's a guy who lost his livelyhood. His hands. The one thing that he thought made him special. Desperate to get it back, he spends all his money on operations, tests, drugs, herbal remedies, anything to try and get it back. Finally, completely broke, he turns to religion and mysticism. Makes the loooong journey to Tibet, and finds salvation, becoming a student of the Ancient one. I mean, you want something personal, it's all right there.

I think something like that would suffer the same issues as Green Lantern where the ideas are all interesting by themselves but lack depth.

 

[Anubis]

The problem with GL was that the script stunk.

Hell, his origin touches upon the same thing as Thor. Humility and redemption.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

The problem with GL was that the script stunk.

Hell, his origin touches upon the same thing as Thor. Humility and redemption.

As good as Thor was I thought it was pretty shallow and I never really felt the character relationships. I thought the characters were fun though and the story clipped along at a good pace, I'm just not sure if I'd want to see other characters handled that way.

Cap had some of those same problems, although I thought they did an excellent job of making Steve compelling, just not enough time developing some of the other relationships.

Batman Begins has some irritating changes to the original origin, but I ultimately feel they do make the character very dynamic and fleshed out. I'd prefer something like that for Stephen Strange.

 

[WildcatNC]

As good as Thor was I thought it was pretty shallow and I never really felt the character relationships. I thought the characters were fun though and the story clipped along at a good pace, I'm just not sure if I'd want to see other characters handled that way.

Cap had some of those same problems, although I thought they did an excellent job of making Steve compelling, just not enough time developing some of the other relationships.

Batman Begins has some irritating changes to the original origin, but I ultimately feel they do make the character very dynamic and fleshed out. I'd prefer something like that for Stephen Strange.

Actually a Dr Strange origin would be similar to BB in several ways. A man of privilege felled, sojourn to Tibet to be trained by a master, comes back to the world with the tools to be a hero.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Actually a Dr Strange origin would be similar to BB in several ways. A man of privilege felled, sojourn to Tibet to be trained by a master, comes back to the world with the tools to be a hero.

Batman has that very serious revenge motive going though, that's what ultimately drives him.

 

[louiebling$]

Well, you get that from his origin. Here's a guy who lost his livelyhood. His hands. The one thing that he thought made him special. Desperate to get it back, he spends all his money on operations, tests, drugs, herbal remedies, anything to try and get it back. Finally, completely broke, he turns to religion and mysticism. Makes the loooong journey to Tibet, and finds salvation, becoming a student of the Ancient one. I mean, you want something personal, it's all right there.

100% Agree

 

[WildcatNC]

Batman has that very serious revenge motive going though, that's what ultimately drives him.

I never said they were the exactly the same, just that the movies would have some superficial similarities.

 

[daderade]

"Tom Cruise use your witchcraft to put out the fire"-Ricky Bobby

 

[cherokeesam]

Batman has that very serious revenge motive going though, that's what ultimately drives him.

But revenge is the oldest and most boring plot catalyst in the book. So is the scenario you described of a guy going to a fortune teller who tells him to fulfill his destiny yadda yadda yadda.

Like Anubis said, Strange's comic book origins are already personal enough, and fairly unique among superhero origin stories. Not many superheroes gain their powers by choice, but Doc Strange is one such. It *is* important to show Strange as a self-made superhero, instead of one who happened upon his powers by randomness, fate or genetics.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

No need for the sarcasm, also it's only posted once, just relocated.
If they used Depp I don't see why they would all a sudden completely change the character and make him into Captain Jack Wizard style.

The character would come first, Depp isn't some untalented hack that would completely rape the essence of the character, infact I figure he'd probably love the character and truly bring him to life.

Brad Pitt was too old and from what I saw in Troy he wouldn't of done Thor much justice in the acting department, you just sound frightened that there would be too many girls at the theatre.

Where was I sarcastic?

Also, you missed my point. It's not that Depp isn't capable, obviously he's proven himself as an immensely talented actor, but it's about his celebrity status. People would see Strange as Depp, and the film as 'That new Johnny Depp film', or it would be "Dude, did you hear? Johnny Depp is Dr Strange!"

When Thor was coming out, if you saw a trailer in the movies, you would hear other people saying "Thor this" and "Thor that" rather than "Dude, it's Christ Hemsworth. I love that guy, let's see the movie because of HIM".

Regardless of how good an actor is, the more well known they are, the more baggage and pre-assumed attitude and audience will go into a movie with. Better to avoid that by casting fresh, especially if they go the Evans Hemsworth route and want someone to sign for a large number of films, which I don't think Depp would be likely to do.

 

[misjuevos]

the coolest aspect of his origin is he was a man of science who now became a man of magic. he goes from one side of the spectrum to the other. it goes against everything he ever learned and believed in.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Where was I sarcastic?

Also, you missed my point. It's not that Depp isn't capable, obviously he's proven himself as an immensely talented actor, but it's about his celebrity status. People would see Strange as Depp, and the film as 'That new Johnny Depp film', or it would be "Dude, did you hear? Johnny Depp is Dr Strange!"

Same could be said abot IM and RDJ, didn't hurt the film at all

When Thor was coming out, if you saw a trailer in the movies, you would hear other people saying "Thor this" and "Thor that" rather than "Dude, it's Christ Hemsworth. I love that guy, let's see the movie because of HIM".

I don't see why people not seeing the movie (and it doesn't matter which reason they have) is something good

Regardless of how good an actor is, the more well known they are, the more baggage and pre-assumed attitude and audience will go into a movie with. Better to avoid that by casting fresh, especially if they go the Evans Hemsworth route and want someone to sign for a large number of films, which I don't think Depp would be likely to do.

He obviously did so with Cpt. Jack and seems to have a life time contract with Tim Burton t:

All that said, I don't think Depp is the reight actor for Strange.

 

[Alexei Belyakov]

I'm gonna throw in my two cents and say that I'm very much in the Johnny Depp camp. Why? Roman Polanski's THE NINTH GATE. The Corso character is pretty much the way I think Dr. Strange should be in a film. Hell, even Depp's look in that movie reminds me of Strange. I'd be happy to have him take on the role and I completely dissagree with the "benefits" of getting an unknown. Hemsworth coulda been terrible. We got lucky. Genuine leading-man charisma doesn't just come naturally (that's why not every actor in Hollywood lands top billing and 7 figure paychecks). Norton & Downey are examples of how established talent can do wonders for these characters. Yeah, sometimes we come across a Hugh Jackman - that with no prior cred, brilliantly nails the character. But those are flukes. They're rare. I say give the role to the most fitting candidate, be it a newbie or an A-lister.

 

[MucasMan]

Just to side-track the heated debate, here's a list of actors who, in thier prime, could have done Dr. Strange justice.

Vincent Price

Of Sherlock Holmes Fame

Anthony Quinn

Ricardo Montalban

Guy Williams

 

[bunk]

I would like Viggo to be the Doctor. He's probably not even the best fit, I just love his performances.

 

[Wolvieboy17]

Depp did Pirates, sure, but i don't quite see him signing a 9 picture deal with Marvel.

Also, RDJ is not a fair comparison, because it was largely Iron Man that propelled RDJ back up to A list status, and that was mainly because he perfectly embodied Tony Stark, rather than just being an actor who could play him. There are plenty of actors who COULD play Dr Strange in a decent enough portrayal, this is about casting the PERFECT actor.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Where was I sarcastic?

Also, you missed my point. It's not that Depp isn't capable, obviously he's proven himself as an immensely talented actor, but it's about his celebrity status. People would see Strange as Depp, and the film as 'That new Johnny Depp film', or it would be "Dude, did you hear? Johnny Depp is Dr Strange!"

When Thor was coming out, if you saw a trailer in the movies, you would hear other people saying "Thor this" and "Thor that" rather than "Dude, it's Christ Hemsworth. I love that guy, let's see the movie because of HIM".

Regardless of how good an actor is, the more well known they are, the more baggage and pre-assumed attitude and audience will go into a movie with. Better to avoid that by casting fresh, especially if they go the Evans Hemsworth route and want someone to sign for a large number of films, which I don't think Depp would be likely to do.

it's like you...DON'T want the movie to be successful... doctor strange isn't exactly a household name, its a miracle thor did as well as well as it did financially. with depp, he's a great actor, and he's a draw, i don't see the problem. but whatever, i think gary oldman could've made a great strange, but he's probably too old now.

 

[Anubis]

Well, to be fair, Strange is a relatively old character.

I think he was in his early to mid 40's when he became Sorcerer Supreme. And Oldman can pass for 40.

 

[Captain Marvel]

Gary Oldman is too old, man.







Heh, I don't agree with that statement. I just wanted to say it.