Marvel has done a good job of mixing things up with their superhero movies. They have varied in tone and style. ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ paid homage to 70s political spy thrillers, while ‘Ant-Man‘ was a heist comedy and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ was a sweeping space opera. Now ‘Doctor Strange’ is adding yet another layer to the mix: horror.
Actor/martial artist Scott Adkins, whose role in ‘Doctor Strange’ is being kept under wraps, recently spoke about the film’s unique feel:
“What’s great about Marvel is they don’t just make superhero movies. They make a different genre out of a different superhero film. Whether it’s a thriller, a straight-up action movie or political thriller, they’re likely to choose a different genre for different heroes, and we’re gonna see some psychedelic stuff in this one. Very exciting. This is going to show that other dimension side. I’m sure [director] Scott Derrickson’s going to bring some of his horror element into it as well.”
This would make sense as to why Derrickson was selected to helm this film. The director previously delivered horror hits ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, ‘Sinister‘ and ‘Deliver Us From Evil’, as well as a ‘Hellraiser’ short film. Derrickson also penned the scripts for these films as well as for ‘Devil’s Knot’, ‘Sinister 2’ and ‘Urban Legends: The Final Cut’.
As for Adkins, his big break came from starring in martial arts films in Hong Kong, which he parlayed into roles in English-speaking films that were heavy on action, including ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’, ‘The Expendables 2’, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ and ‘The Brothers Grimsby’ as well as in many lower budget direct-to-video flicks including the two ‘Ninja’ movies. He even had an uncredited role in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘.
So clearly, whatever his mystery role is, we know it’s going to be physical. He still wouldn’t disclose much, but did slip a bit when discussing fighting sequences with Benedict Cumberbatch and other scenes with Mads Mikkelsen, who we know is playing the film’s Big Bad.
“Oh, now you’re really putting me on the spot with the screen-fighting bit. Both of them are wonderful people, and I’m not just saying that. They’re a joy to be around. Real gentlemen. Benedict is so smart so intelligent — so knowledgeable about everything and just a real sweet, very nice guy. He’s not used to the fighting side of things. It’s kind of new to him. Well, I guess he did some in ‘Star Trek,’ but it’s my thing. It’s not his thing. I was very happy to give him his — well, he tried his damnedest. And I’m sure the finished product is going to show that. And Mads Mikkelsen. He’s a great guy. He’s really down to earth … both of them are just fantastic actors.”
Hmmm, any guesses? It sounds like he has some non-fighting scenes with Mikkelsen, but does do combat with Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. A henchman of some sort? But is he just a nameless thug or is he playing a villain from the comics?
Are you excited that ‘Doctor Strange’ will have some thrills and chills? Or physical combat?
‘Doctor Strange’ is directed by Scott Derrickson and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the title hero, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, Michael Stühlbarg as Nicodemus West, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Mads Mikkelsen, Scott Adkins and Amy Landecker in mystery roles. The film will appear in theaters on November 4, 2016.
Jax's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes.
