How Joaquin Phoenix's Doctor Strange Rejection Affected MCU Hiring Process
Though some may have a hard time seeing anyone else in the role, Joaquin Phoenix nearly starred in Doctor Strange, but his rejection for the film affected the Marvel Cinematic Universe's hiring process. The 2016 film marked the proper MCU debut of Stephen Strange, an arrogant neurosurgeon who turns to the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions in the hopes of healing his hands that were left severely damaged by a car crash. Strange would find himself pulled into a battle to keep the world safe from the forces of evil as Master of the Mystic Arts Kaecilius attempts to open a portal to the Dark Dimension and invite Dormammu to feed on the world.
Development on a Doctor Strange film languished for over 30 years, with Stan Lee even co-writing a script in the late '80s while rights issues between Marvel and Warner Bros. and other studios resulted in various versions being canceled. As Marvel began putting together their interconnected universe of films based on lesser-known characters, the gears slowly began turning on bringing Doctor Strange to the big screen, with Sinister's Scott Derrickson being tapped to direct and co-write the script with his frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill and Dune's Jon Spaihts in 2014. Casting would get underway shortly thereafter with Marvel, Derrickson and Spaihts all envisioning Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange, though one other celebrated actor nearly took on the role.
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In a recent interview with The Direct, Paul Sarker opened up about how Joaquin Phoenix's Doctor Strange rejected affected the MCU's hiring process. The former Marvel attorney explains that the future Oscar winner had a
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