Much like how Thor introduced extraterrestrial elements to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Friday's Ant-Man will introduce the Microverse, 2016's Doctor Strange will leave its own unique mark. When the film hits theaters next year, it will directly delve into the world of magic for the first time in this experiment. Although fans have seen various superpowers and bizarre technology used by the heroes and villains, magic is an entirely different beast, and according to one of the main stars, this will give the audience a different experience from Marvel's other cinematic projects.
Marvel hasn't divulged any specific story details for Doctor Strange, but fans can likely expect a more unusual superhero offering. Last year's plot synopsis mentioned that the movie would explore the "hidden world of magic," which includes alternate dimensions like the Astral Plane.
While we will see the Sorcerer Supreme fighting various kinds of malevolent beings and rogue magic users, it's unlikely that he will be fighting them the same way this universe's superheroes do, i.e. engaging enemies on an actual battlefield with fists flying. Strange relies on his magical abilities and artifacts to fight evil, and often times these battles occur in these other realms where the laws of physics aren't the same as they are on Earth.
Tilda Swinton has confirmed herself for a role in Marvel's Doctor Strange. The British actress, 54, will begin production with lead star Benedict Cumberbatch in the UK later this year, ahead of the film's planned 28 October 2016 release. Swinton will play Doctor Strange's Tibetan mystic mentor The Ancient One, whose magical abilities include teleportation, illusions and levitation. The character is portrayed as an old man in the popular comics on which the movie will be based, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has said that the original story will be modernised. Swinton was first tipped to play a female version of The Ancient One in May, but has said that she is now "so far in talks [with Marvel] that we're not talking any more"
