I recently was asked to make a post based off of the Marvel character Doctor Strange, who happens to have a movie coming out in November. This upcoming release has the potential to be the new backbone to the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU). I know most MCU fans will question that brass statement. They will bring up counter-arguments surrounding the likes of RDJ, Chris Evans, and Spider-man Tom Holland. What Doctor Strange can bring to the MCU goes beyond just the (incredibly bankable Benedict Cumberbatch) actor playing him, it can bring the universe in a whole new, magical direction.
Robert Downey Jr. is 51 years old. honestly how many more times does he have left playing the man in the iron suit? I know that he was "suppose" to be done playing him already and that he keeps signing on for more MCU films. At some point, he will be leaving the comic book movie game behind him. Most people will suggest that Chris Evans Captain America will take the torch of the MCU headliner. But Chris Evans has always maintained that once his contract is up he will also be leaving the world of tights. Remember he almost didn't take the role and we could've had this guy playing mind games with Nick Fury for the past six years. Look it up, it's true, Jim Halpert was almost the man wielding the indestructible shield. At some point in the near future, I would expect The Winter Soldier or The Falcon to take up the mantle and no offense to either actor but they can't carry the MCU like the way Cumberbatch can.
Benedict Cumberbatch is a rock star plain and simple. There are people out there that think he's overrated and that Doctor Strange will be the first big failure from Marvel Studios(if you don't count Iron Man 2). But if you look at his box office track record you can see that he has the potential to be not just a superstar here in the good ol US of A. He was Kahn in Stark Trek: Into Darkness and Smaug (the only part of those films that I enjoyed) in The Hobbit trilogy. He knows the lay of the nerd land. He was even this generation's defining Sherlock Homes (sorry once again Robert Downey Jr). But picking the right actor is only part of the battle, I believe the good doctor can lead the Marvel universe into a tonally and totally different space.
Ever since Sam Jackson appeared during a post-credits scene at the end of Iron Man it has seemed that these films were building towards something. Much like a comic book all these solo series lead to a team-up story line known as an event comic. The film version of that has us leading to a confrontation with Thanos the Mad Titan (he's the purple guy at the end of the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy). The throw down with Thanos will happen in Avengers: Infinity War and it's sequel. While Doctor Strange is a good bet to be a big part of at least one of these films, his real big impact could be on what happens post Infinity War.
With Actors aging and contracts coming to an end, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is headed for it's first real unknown since they hired a washed up actor with a checkered past (for the third time, sorry RDJ). But there is hope, Doctor Strange can lead the magical revolution to the MCU. Up to this point, most of the MCU has been explained by science or space. It's the easiest way to sum up the "grounded" reality these films strive to contain themselves in. Doctor Strange is about to blow that door wide open.
One of the bigger questions facing the Marvel movie landscape post Infinity War is who will replace Thanos as the "team assembling villain"? We have the good Doctor to answer our questions for us. In the comics, Doctor Strange has two main nemeses. The first is Baron Mordo who by the looks of it will start out as an ally to Strange and eventually turn on him. The second and far more powerful Dormammu. If you grew up watching the 90's Spider-Man cartoon show like myself you'll recognize him as the Fire Demon who brings back Venom and creates Carnage. He is as formidable and fearful as Thanos and he can lead scum and villainy of the next phase of the MCU.
I know a lot is riding on this film and in 3 months time I'll have to come in and make sure no one can read any of this! But I truly believe that this is something Kevin Feige and the brass at Disney have already been thinking about. Much like Iron Man and Captain America carried the first two phases of films, Doctor Strange and Spider-Man? can carry us into the next couple of phases.
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This has been your friendly neighborhood Pieman!