Joaquin Phoenix in closing negotiations to star in 'Doctor Strange'

With Avengers: Age of Ultron coming to theaters on May 1st, 2015 we are almost all done with the MCU Phase Two and set to begin Phase Three when Ant-Man hits the big-screen on July 17th, 2015. Marvel is pretty secretive with their properties and other than a lineup of dates and pure speculation, we know little about the upcoming films. It is only natural that from these speculations rise a lot of rumors, and the title that has come up again and again has been Doctor Strange, and of course the talk has been most at who would be portraying the Sorcerer Supreme with names like Johnny Depp, Jared Letto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and Joaquin Phoenix being thrown around. Marvel already announced Scott Derrickson as director and brought in Jon Spaihts to write along with previously attached Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, so these additions to the project have us assuming that Doctor Strange would take the July 8th, 2016 even though it has not been officially announced.

Now it looks like speculations as to who will play the lead in the film can come to a rest, Collider is releasing the exclusive that previously rumored Joaquin Phoenix is in final stages of negotiations to land the role of Doctor Strange. Sources from the site claim that the actor is in the final stretch of signing the contract, with just the final details to be settled on, this might include pay, how many films, and other scheduling issues. Personally, assuming that this casting news is true, and we are all taking it as pretty much done unless negotiations take a dramatic turn, I am completely on board with Joaquin Phoenix playing the Sorcerer Supreme. Phoenix is a multiple Oscar nominee so you know the acting is there in the truck load, the distinct look of the character can't be seen at first glance but I'm sure with some facial hair and gray sideburns (assuming they'll stick to the original look) the looks will be there. In the end to me there's pretty much nothing that Marvel can announce that I won't be alright with, they are at that point that the faith I have in them is so that they could cast a chimpanzee as the next superhero and I would give it a shot, but being serious, I really like this news and am looking forward to what they announce next.