We’ve known for some time that Rachel McAdams would be playing the female lead in next year’s ‘Doctor Strange’, but her exact role was the subject of speculation.  Most fan’s initially guessed she would play fellow sorcerer Clea, but that was quickly debunked, as was speculation that she would portray Linda Carter/Night Nurse.  But that last guess was close, it was later stated that McAdams would play Christine Palmer, an ordinary nurse who was part of a short-lived attempt by Marvel to do a dramatic soap opera-style book called ‘Night Nurse’. (Linda Carter was another character from the ensemble title.)

But even that report now seems to be in question, as executive producers Stephen Broussard and Kevin Feige refused to reveal the name of McAdams’ ‘Strange’ role.

Feige, who is also the president of Marvel Studios, addressed this mystery part by saying:

“Rachel McAdams plays a fellow surgeon that has a history with Strange and is his sort of lynchpin to his old life, once he steps into he role of a sorcerer.  She is someone he connects with at the beginning, and reconnects with, and helps anchor his humanity.”

Broussard added:

“Rachel McAdams is sort of [Doctor Strange’s] contemporary in the modern-day New York world, before and after he goes on this crazy journey.  So, she sees him before, she sees him after. She’s kind of this audience point of view.”

This isn’t particularly news, as it has already largely been reported that McAdams had more to do with the ‘Doctor’ part and less with the ‘Strange’ part.

But is her connection with the title hero, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, strictly professional?  Or will these doctors… y’know play doctor?

Cumberbatch was hesitant to respond, but said:

“I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say what the interest is… But I hit on her more than the Ancient One, put it like that.”

So perhaps McAdams isn’t playing Christine Palmer, after all.  Her character is a surgeon, not a nurse for one thing, but considering that Christine is a very minor character from Marvel’s history, they could easily just use her name as a basis upon which to build a character suited to the movie.

Do you think McAdams is playing Christine Palmer?  Or is there another woman from the comics that she would be better portraying?

‘Doctor Strange’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Mads Mikkelsen opens in theaters on November 4, 2016.

Source: Entertainment Weekly