Just a few days after news broke that Scott Derrickson had been hired to direct the upcoming Doctor Strange adaptation, it appears Marvel is wasting no time getting the casting process underway.  Included on their Doctor Strange casting shortlist are none other than fan-boy favorites Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy.

While neither of these actors appear to have received an official offer from the studio just yet, they would both make pretty solid choices for the role (though personally, I think Cumberbatch would make more sense).  Also, it wouldn’t exactly be the first time that one of them had been rumored for the part.  A few months ago it had been rumored that Cumberbatch had been approached by Marvel to appear in one of their films.  The rumor wasn’t specific about the alleged role he would play but for many fanboys (including myself) it wasn’t exactly a giant leap in logic to think that he would be a good fit for the character.

The problem with these two actors though is Marvel’s hardly the only studio that wants them for their movie.  Neither one of them has quite achieved A-list status just yet, but both of their schedules are still pretty busy.  Hardy already has two films scheduled for release later this year and Mad Max coming out next summer.  Cumberbatch’s schedule is no better as he currently filming for the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass, is expected to appear in the Gary Oldman directed Flying Horse shortly afterward, and there’s no telling if and when he could be needed to film another season of Sherlock.  Hopefully one these actors would be able to work around their schedules to play the superhero.

Would Cumberbatch or Hardy make a better Doctor Strange?  Do you think either one of them will get the role?  Tell us your opinion of the Doctor Strange casting rumors in the comment section below.   

Source: Collider