Marvel Studios may be having some trouble finding a director its Ant-Man movie right now, but it’s having no such problem with its upcoming Doctor Strange movie.
Filmmaker Scott Derrickson, who is best known for his work behind the camera on recent horror movies Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, announced via Twitter that he’ll be directing Doctor Strange.
“My next movie will be STRANGE,” tweeted Derrickson along with a photo of himself (see below) reading an early issue of the Doctor Strange comic-book series
Anyone familiar with the darker, supernatural adventures of Marvel’s “Sorcerer Supreme” will likely attest that the filmmaker initially seems like a good fit for the project, which is currently lacking a release date. With the studio having reserved two upcoming release dates for as-yet-unidentified projects, it’s likely that Doctor Strange will slide into the schedule on July 8, 2016, or May 5, 2017. Where it ends up in the calendar could be determined by how quickly the film nabs a leading man, with the most recent rumor teasing that Johnny Depp could be circling the role.
It’s also interesting to note that Derrickson wasn’t among the four filmmakers reported to be on the “shortlist” for Doctor Strange back in February, which serves as a reminder that nothing is official in Hollywood until the studio — or someone directly involved with the project like an actor, director, or producer — says it’s official.
For those not familiar with the character, Doctor Strange was created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and is a former neurosurgeon who serves as the world’s protector against threats from the mystical realm. He is often regarded as the Marvel universe’s most powerful magic user, earning him the title “Sorcerer Supreme.”
