Kaecilius, The Ancient One and Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo all headline today’s fresh batch of Doctor Strange character posters, while there’s also a special one-sheet of the Sorcerer Supreme himself lumped in for good measure. It’s the latest info dump to emerge from Marvel and Scott Derrickson’s origin story in what is fast becoming a busy fortnight – just yesterday, for instance, we brought you the eye-popping IMAX trailer.
Simultaneously introducing the film’s key supporters all the while drawing attention to the supernatural visual style, those one-sheets included above are certainly easy on the eye. As for the one focusing on Doctor Strange, it’s designed in such a way that it is as though you’re peering into the complex mind of Benedict Cumberbatch’s brilliant, yet deeply flawed lead. It’s a role that could have so easily passed the Sherlock stalwart by, but after briefly considering alternate options – options by the name of Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto – all involved at Marvel and particularly Kevin Feige kept circling back to the British thesp.
But Doctor Strange‘s star power stretches far beyond its title hero. Chiwetel Ejiofor, for example, is an Oscar-nominated actor typically associated with more drama-oriented fare. Come November, though, he’ll be assuming a role that has been reworked slightly in its journey to the big screen. Here, Ejiofor’s Baron Mordo is an ally to both The Ancient One and, through time, Strange himself.
I think it starts with Strange as the pupil. Strange is somebody who is trying to find out what all of these things are and find the secrets of these place. And I think it develops into something deeper and richer. Yes there is a camaraderie but it’s also a kind of mutual respect as they gain an understanding of each other.
Speaking of The Ancient One, in a separate interview with Screen Rant, Tilda Swinton shed new light on the MCU’s interpretation of the famous character, which has been subject to controversy throughout development.
I would say the whole approach is about a kind of fluidity. There are many graphic artists who have interpreted The Ancient One as a Tibetan Buddhist Lama, we’re kind of shifting that a bit. We’re trying not to be fixed, we’re trying not to be fixed to any one thing, any one gender, any one spiritual discipline, and any one race even; we’re just trying to wing it beyond that. So it’s a new gesture really, just another interpretation.
Doctor Strange hits on November 4.
