Scott Derrickson

Reptilian thespian Benedict Cumberbatch scored a true box-office smash this past weekend as the headliner of Doctor Strange, a long-time-coming solo film for one of Marvel Comics’ most outré heroes. In addition to the distinction of being the first performer in the history of cinema to successfully pull off a cape-and-goatee combo, Cumberbatch proved his bona fides as an honest-to-god movie star with this pivotal role. But a new piece from IGN today reveals that in addition to the Sorcerer Supreme, Cumberbatch also played a second, uncredited role in the Doctor Strange production. (Here be SPOILERS. Continue at your own risk.)

After 30 years of trying to bring the mystical surgeon Stephen Strange from the page to the screen, Doctor Strange is finally making his movie debut.

How many interviews does it take to land a gig directing a Marvel movie?

It seems like whenever a new blockbuster comes out, it’s on the cutting edge of movie technology. Just this month we had the premiere of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, filmed on 120-frames-per-second cameras, advertised as Ang Lee’s most realistic-looking movie yet. Doctor Strange is also attempting to get into the innovation game, with an IMAX 3D version of the film that, according to the stars, makes it feel like you’re actually there watching skyscrapers kaleidoscoping around you.

It’s almost impossible for filmmakers and executives to discuss sequel ideas without name-dropping Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (the same goes for discussing reboots / origin stories without citing Batman Begins). Such is the case with director Scott Derrickson, who was recently asked about his ideas for a potential sequel to Doctor Strange. Unsurprisingly, he referenced The Dark Knight — though not entirely without merit.

The most common knock against Marvel’s cinematic universe: All their movies look the same. In a mega-franchise spanning 14 films and counting, that look can get pretty stale. For the most part, these movies about bravery are pretty timid when it comes to visual storytelling.

Marvel has been steadily building up the hype for Doctor Strange, which is due out in theaters in only a few short weeks. Today, they released the end credits track off of the movie’s score, composed by Hollywood’s own musical magician Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille, Jurassic World, Star Trek Beyond), and it’s. so. good.

Our biggest takeaway from Marvel’s special IMAX preview of Doctor Strange was just how impressive and immersive all those world-bending, inter-dimensional sequences are on the big screen. You really only get a small taste of how bold those scenes are in the previews, like the latest international trailer for the new film, but a pair of newly-released blacklight posters are definitely in keeping with that psychedelic, third-eye-opening bent.

On my Marvel Unlimited app, I’ve been slowly working my way through the very first Doctor Strange comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, which originally appeared in the pages of the appropriately named series Strange Tales. At the time, of his introduction Dr. Strange was a backup feature in the book, which was primarily devoted to the solo tales of Fantastic Four member the Human Torch. The stories of these early Strange adventures are pretty hit or miss (one involves a haunted house which is not haunted but is actually - SPOILER ALERT - a house from another dimension. ) but the artwork, even in the earliest issues, is just fantastic. Ditko (who also co-created Spider-Man with Lee) had this amazing conception of alternate dimension and realities that was just incredible.

Comics readers were understandably a little confused when we all saw that Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character Baron Mordo was in Doctor Strange, but in a considerably different way than everyone expected. If you know Doctor Strange, you know that Baron Mordo is actually his archnemesis: the two met while both under the tutelage of the Ancient One, and Mordo is eventually cast out after Strange foils his attempt to kill their teacher. Mordo becomes a magician gifted in the black arts, and antagonizes Strange at every turn.