Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed the company is meeting with several actors to cast "Doctor Strange."
In an interview with IGN, Feige confirmed reports the studio is actively looking for their title character and commented about the rumors actor Johnny Depp was meeting with production to take on the role.
"You know, I would say that we're pretty transparent," Feige told IGN. "Doctor Strange would be our -- well, depending on when we make it, it could be our 13th, 14th, 15th movie, right? I think if you're looking to track our decision-making and how we've done things, we have a pretty wide track record now where you can sort of see. So, no, a movie star is not required, but that doesn't mean a movie star wouldn't be great. It just depends."
Feige didn't reveal who was in the running for the lead, but shot down rumors relating to one actor. To the disappointment of fans, Feige refuted claims Depp was ever in the running for the role.
"When you have a project that's been around as long as Doctor Strange, there is sometimes, 'Oh, I've met with Stan about this! Or I did that!' So Strange is one of those projects that predates me by a long shot," Feige told IGN. "Obviously, the character does, but even in its cinematic brewing. So there's a lot of things that have happened before me, and I've been here 14 years. So that's a long time ago. I don't know if that happened then."
As for their recent drop of the new "Guardians of the Galaxy" trailer, Feige told IGN Marvel couldn't be more pleased with fan reaction.
"Well, I was very pleased with it," Feige said, "because it's still early days for us, as the movie is coalescing and formulating itself in the cutting room, but there are a few things that we would be locked into: the cast, their looks, our use of music and our very unique tone. The fact that that's what that teaser is about and that's what people are embracing, there are a lot of happy people in the offices, that people are into this."
There is no set release date for "Doctor Strange," but "Guardians of the Galaxy" is slated to hit theaters on Aug. 1.
