Joaquin Phoenix As Doctor Strange

Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” has had a lot of names rumored to be in contention for the titular role. In fact, it ranks up there with most rumored names for any comic hero in recent memory.

We’ve seen everyone from Jon Hamm to Jack Huston suggested for the role, with Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and even Daniel Radcliffe being whispered in lower tones as contenders in between.

Out of all the names rumored in contention for the role, though, it looks like it all comes down to the most interesting name mentioned in the pack: Joaquin Phoenix.

At least that’s what Collider is running with, as they are claiming exclusive knowledge that after almost a month of radio silence, Phoenix is in “final negotiations” to play the gifted neurosurgeon turned practitioner of the magical arts known as Doctor Strange.

According to sources, the reasoning for the delay in the negotiations is that, naturally, Joaquin Phoenix isn’t going to want to be bound by a Marvel contract that prevents his work on smaller films akin to Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming “Inherent Vice.”

Of course, we all know how quickly “final negotiations” can turn into nothing when it comes to Marvel Studios. Remember, it was once reported that Adam McKay was in such stages of negotiations to direct “Ant-Man,” only to see it turn to dust.

For now, Joaquin Phoenix is the front runner, and it’s up to Marvel Studios to either confirm or deny this news in short order. Of course with the Marvel Cinematic Universe ruling the comic movie world at this point, they could confirm at any damned time they wanted to and we’d still be waiting with baited breath.

In the meantime, you’ll be able to see Joaquin Phoenix play a different type of Doc in P.T. Anderson’s “Inherent Vice,” which is scheduled to drop on December 12, 2014.