Marvel couldn’t have made a better choice if it had the Time Stone itself. Back when a “Doctor Strange” movie was far from a guaranteed hit, Scott Derrickson and Kevin Feige knew they simply couldn’t afford to get the casting wrong. Despite their dalliance with Joaquin Phoenix, it ultimately became clear that Benedict Cumberbatch was the man for the job — no matter the (very literal) cost. In 2014, Marvel announced tentative release dates for its next batch of films, with “Doctor Strange” slated for a prime blockbuster opening on July 8, 2016. Making room for Cumberbatch’s schedule, however, took top priority.
As Derrickson explained to /Film:
“So after giving [Joaquin Phoenix’s casting] 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.”
Talk about a vote of confidence. Disney doesn’t typically put art above commerce (on a completely unrelated note, have you checked out the trailer for the “Mufasa: The Lion King” prequel movie yet?), but it certainly made an exception here. For his part, Derrickson has nothing but gratitude:
“In the end, it came down to the heads of Disney knowing they would make less money on the movie, but letting me as the director have the right actor for the movie.”
Be sure to read the full interview for more insights here.
