Forget Joaquin Phoenix. Marvel Studios may have a new actor in mind to take Doctor Strange from the comic book pages to the big screen.
Ethan Hawke is reportedly in talks to star as Doctor Strange in Marvel's next original installment, according to This Is Infamous. Marvel Studios decided to move on from their dogged pursuit of Phoenix and offer Hawke a six-picture deal to play the Sorcerer Supreme.
Negotiations reportedly have moved quickly since Hawke received the offer on Friday, Sept. 26, according to This Is Infamous. He may have already accepted the job and started contract talks.
Hawke previously worked with the "Doctor Strange" director Scott Derrickson on the movie "Sinister" in 2012. The actor received a Oscar nomination for his role in 2002's "Training Day" and recently starred in Richard Linklater's "Boyhood."
Marvel hired Jon Spaihts to do a rewrite of the "Doctor Strange" draft script in June, according to Deadline. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer turned in the original draft, and Marvel wants to fast-track production for a possible release in 2016 during the studios' Phase 3.
Hawke's six-picture deal could make him a likely candidate to appear in the next "Guardians of the Galaxy" or "The Avengers" movies and other "Strange" sequels.
Doctor Strange received a name drop in Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" in April. Disgraced S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sitwell revealed Stephen Strange along with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner as potential targets of HYDRA's plan to eliminate any person who could pose a threat to the subversive organization.
Marvel films set to premiere before the "Doctor Strange" movie include "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on May 1, 2015, "Ant-Man" on July 17, 2015, and "Captain America 3" on May 6, 2016.
