Joaquin Phoenix Almost Played Doctor Strange in the MCU?
Since his debut in 2016’s Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch has become synonymous with the Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.
Reprising his role as the smug yet caring Dr. Steven Strange in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and finally, Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness, Cumberbatch has turned Stephen Strange into one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes, and perhaps the man most likely to lead the Avengers forward.
While Benedict Cumberbatch was director Scott Derrickson’s first choice to play Stephen Strange, as it turns out, he also talked to Joaquin Phoenix about the role.
How Close Was Joaquin Phoenix to Playing Stephen Strange?
In a recent interview with /Film. Derrickson discussed the meeting with Phoenix.
“I spent a couple of long afternoons with [Phoenix] and really was really impressed with him personally and his thought process,” Derrickson recalled.
“This is what I’ll say: I think he was giving, I think he was opening his mind to the possibility. I think he was investigating the possibility. What happened, just to be clear, we offered the movie to Benedict [Cumberbatch]. I wanted Benedict. That was my choice for the role. I flew all the way to London to try to talk him into doing it. What it came down to was that it was a summer movie, and Benedict had committed to doing ‘Hamlet’ in London theater.”
With Cumberbatch seemingly unable to play the role because of his prior commitments, Derrickson continued to talk to Phoenix about the role.
“I met with a bunch of actors, and Joaquin was the one that I spent the most time with,” Derrickson continued. “As we continued to talk, it became clear to me that Joaquin didn’t really belong in that movie and probably never belonged in the MCU. He’s a very specific guy with very specific goals as an actor, and a very specific way of performing. I think it became clear to both of us that this might not be a good fit. Really is what it came down to.”
Marvel Moved the Dr. Strange Release Date For Cumberbatch
Eventually, Derrickson realized that Phoenix was perhaps not right for the role, and he was determined to make things work for Cumberbatch. To facilitate the actor’s Hamlet run, Marvel would eventually move Dr. Strange’s release date.
“So after giving that a shot — we didn’t have a script, either. Keep that in mind. I think what he was very nervous about was he’d be committing to multiple movies, which is not the kind of thing he’s ever done. I just went back to Kevin [Feige] and I just said, “We have to move the date because it’s got to be Benedict.” Kevin went to Bob Iger and Alan Horn, and told them what I said. To their credit, they moved the date and it became a fall movie.”
While it doesn’t sound like Joaquim Phoenix was particularly close to playing Dr. Strange, the idea of the eccentric actor in the MCU is certainly interesting. Perhaps, one day.