Trailer
Plot summary
The sorcerer Kaecilius and his zealots enter Kamar-Taj, a secret compound in Kathmandu, behead its librarian, and steal pages from a book that belongs to the Ancient One. She chases them, but they get away. In New York City, Dr. Stephen Strange is an acclaimed and arrogant neurosurgeon whose hands are badly hurt in a car crash, leaving him unable to operate. Christine Palmer, a fellow surgeon, wants him to move on, but Strange keeps seeking experimental surgeries. He learns about Jonathan Pangborn, a paraplegic who regained the use of his legs, and Pangborn sends him to Kamar-Taj. There Mordo takes him in, and the Ancient One shows him the astral plane and other dimensions before reluctantly agreeing to train him.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Doctor Strange (2016)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Scott Derrickson wrote a 12-page astral-plane fight scene based on the comic Doctor Strange: The Oath, illustrated it with his own concept art, and presented it in a 90-minute pitch that cost him an 'obnoxious amount' of his own money; Marvel told him more people had lobbied to direct Doctor Strange than any of their other films.
- After scouting locations in Nepal, many of them were destroyed by the April 2015 earthquake, but Scott Derrickson and Benedict Cumberbatch decided to shoot there anyway, feeling that bringing attention and tourism to the country was 'all the more reason to shoot there'.
SPOILER
Benedict Cumberbatch also portrays the villain Dormammu, uncredited, after suggesting to Scott Derrickson that the character work as a 'horrific' reflection of Strange rather than 'a big ghoulish monster'; Derrickson said this implies Dormammu imitates Strange for their confrontation.- Joaquin Phoenix ended talks to play Doctor Strange in October 2014 because he felt blockbuster films would never be 'fulfilling'; Marvel then shortlisted Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Oscar Isaac, Ewan McGregor, Matthew McConaughey, Jake Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and Keanu Reeves for the character.
- Jessica Chastain was approached for the female lead before Rachel McAdams but turned down the opportunity, feeling she was 'only going to get one shot at being in a Marvel film' and wanted to be a lead character.
- Before Doctor Strange's sets were demolished, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi wrote and filmed a scene of Strange meeting Chris Hemsworth's Thor for his own film; Derrickson and Marvel thought it was 'kind of perfect' and added it to Doctor Strange as a mid-credits scene.
- Lamborghini supplied six Huracán LP 610-4 sports cars for use in Doctor Strange, one of which the production wrecked during filming; the company said it felt many characteristics of the character connected with its philosophy.
