Doctor Strange director says how close Joaquin Phoenix came to being the MCU’s Sorcerer Supreme

According to director Joaquin Phoenix, he had a great chance to play Doctor Strange

The first Doctor Strange film was released in 2016 and the character is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who has appeared several other times in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Currently, it is difficult to imagine another actor playing the supreme wizard, but according to the director of the hero’s first feature, Scott DerricksonJoaquin Phoenix came very close to playing Stephen Strange.

In an interview with Slash Film, the director said that he spoke a few times with Phoenix about Doctor Strange:

“Well, all I’ll say is that I spent some time with him. I spent a few long afternoons with him and was very impressed with his personality and way of thinking. What I can say is: I think he was opening his mind to the possibility. I think he was investigating the possibility.”

“I met with several actors, but Joaquin was the one I spent the most time with. As we continued to talk it became clear that Joaquin did not belong in that film and would never belong in the MCU. He’s a guy with some very specific goals as an actor and in his way of acting. I think it was clear to both of them that it wouldn’t work.”

Despite not interpreting the Doctor Strangesome years later Joaquin Phoenix played the Joker in the villain’s solo film, released in 2019. The actor will return to the role this year in Joker: Delirium for Two where he will work with Lady Gagawho will live Harley Quinn. The film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on October 4, 2024.

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