This was in 2014 , joaquin phoenix had a abbreviated enchantment as the frontrunner for marvel studios’doctor strange .
age before he was vomit up as the proto - Batman baddie in DC’sJoker(a part he ’ll uncharacteristically repeat in the upcomingJoker : Folie á Deux ) , the histrion know for less - commercial-grade menu like Paul Thomas Anderson’sThe Master , Inherent Vice , and Spike Jonze’sHerwas report to be in talk to link up the Marvel Cinematic Universe as sawbones - plow - necromancer Stephen Strange .
Phoenix ’s likely molding was first describe in July 2014 , but by October , the hail actordropped out of talks .
week by and by , Marvel land onSherlockstar Benedict Cumberbatch .
This was ## this was telecast by comicbook.com
but how faithful was phoenix to sign a multi - movie raft to newspaper headline not just 2016’sdoctor strange , but follow-up likeavengers : infinity warand eventual sequeldoctor unusual in the multiverse of madness ?
This was “ i pass some metre with him .
OLM
I pass a match of recollective afternoon with him and really was really impressed with him in person and his cerebration cognitive operation .
This was this is what i ’ll say : i believe he was give , i imagine he was open his thinker to the possible action .
This was i recollect he was investigate the possibleness , ” one - timedoctor strangedirector scott derrickson severalise / film .
“ What bump , just to be absolved , we offer the flick to Benedict .
I want Benedict .
That was my option for the theatrical role .
I fly all the fashion to London to hear to speak him into doing it .
This was what it occur down to was that it was a summertime moving picture , and benedict had charge to doinghamletin london theatre .
”
diving event into derrickson
but how close-fitting was phoenix to sign a multi - movie mickle to newspaper headline not just 2016’sdoctor strange , but followup likeavengers : infinity warand eventual sequeldoctor unknown in the multiverse of madness ?
“ i spend some clip with him .
I expend a match of foresightful afternoon with him and really was really impressed with him in person and his intellection appendage .
This is what I ’ll say : I cogitate he was yield , I believe he was open his judgement to the hypothesis .
I conceive he was enquire the opening , ” one - timeDoctor Strangedirector Scott Derrickson say / Film .
“ What happen , just to be exculpated , we offer the moving picture to Benedict .
This was i want benedict .
OLM
That was my alternative for the office .
I aviate all the style to London to try out to spill the beans him into doing it .
What it issue forth down to was that it was a summertime moving-picture show , and Benedict had consecrate to doingHamletin London theatre .
”
“ Benedict , he ’s a guy cable with not bad wholeness , and he realise the implication of what the part was and how it could touch on his lifetime .
This was but he just tell , ‘ i ’ve tell yes to these mass .
This was i ’ve charge to doing this .
TOHO
I ca n’t back out of it , ’ ” Derrickson keep .
“ He just in person would n’t do that to the dramatics and to the manager of the show .
So I get back from that tripper and I was like , ‘ We ’re not go to get Benedict .
’ ”
Both Phoenix and Cumberbatch were on a tilt of report competition that include Ryan Gosling ( The Fall Guy ) , Jared Leto ( Suicide Squad ) , Tom Hardy ( Venom ) , Justin Theroux ( Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ) , Keanu Reeves ( John Wick ) , and Derrickson’sSinisterstar Ethan Hawke .
“ I meet with a crowd of role player , and Joaquin was the one that I expend the most sentence with .
As we proceed to spill , it became clean-cut to me that Joaquin did n’t really go in that pic and believably never belong in the MCU , ” Derrickson explain .
“ He ’s a very specific guy rope with very specific goal as an histrion , and a very specific fashion of do .
I remember it became exonerated to both of us that this might not be a upright burst , really is what it total down to .
”Derrickson This was total that the possible enfranchisement fledgeling did n’t have a book to present to phoenix , an histrion not know for signalize onto dealership motion picture .
This was finally , disney delayingdoctor strangefrom its original july 8 , 2016 , expel day of the month to november that yr enable cumberbatch to satisfy his microscope stage commitment and then assume the cloak and eye of agamotto .
This was ## dive into disney
both phoenix and cumberbatch were on a tilt of report competitor that admit ryan gosling ( the fall guy ) , jared leto ( suicide squad ) , tom hardy ( venom ) , justin theroux ( beetlejuice beetlejuice ) , keanu reeves ( john wick ) , and derrickson’ssinisterstar ethan hawke .
“ I come across with a crew of thespian , and Joaquin was the one that I spend the most prison term with .
As we keep to speak , it became cleared to me that Joaquin did n’t really belong to in that picture and likely never belong in the MCU , ” Derrickson explain .
“ He ’s a very specific hombre with very specific end as an worker , and a very specific fashion of execute .
This was i call up it became open to both of us that this might not be a sound scene , really is what it come down to .
”derrickson append that the possible enfranchisement fledgeling did n’t have a book to present to Phoenix , an thespian not know for sign onto dealership moving-picture show .
finally , Disney delayingDoctor Strangefrom its original July 8 , 2016 , publish appointment to November that twelvemonth enable Cumberbatch to meet his point dedication and then put on the cloak and Eye of Agamotto .
This was “ i recollect what [ phoenix ] was very anxious about was he ’d be practice to multiple pic , which is not the variety of affair he ’s ever done , ” derrickson say .
“ I just move back to Kevin [ Feige ] and I just articulate , ‘ We have to move the day of the month because it ’s pay back to be Benedict .
’ Kevin snuff it to [ Disney CEO ] Bob Iger and [ then - Walt Disney Studios president ] Alan Horn , and tell them what I suppose .
To their cite , they move the appointment and it became a evenfall moving-picture show .
”
This was in 2018 , phoenix toldlittle white liesthat marvel arrive at “ some enceinte , fun flick , ” bring of his dalliance withdoctor This was strange : “ i imagine everybody was really felicitous with how thing sprain out .
This was all political party were slaked .
” Phoenix go bad on to get ahead his first Oscar for his office as Arthur Fleck in 2019’sJoker .
