1. Joaquin Phoenix Won't Play Marvel's Doctor Strange
We've heard for a while now that Marvel was courting three-time Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix to star in their upcoming Doctor Strange film, but had had trouble getting the persnickety actor to sign the dotted line on one of their famous multi-picture deals. Those hopes fell completely off the rails this week, however, as
Deadline reported that Phoenix is firmly out of the running for the role. They also stated that the rumor pointing toward Boyhood and The Purge actor Ethan Hawke is also false, and that "that is speculation run wild." So, it's apparently back to the drawing board for the studio and director Scott Derrickson to find their Sorcerer Supreme. With big-name stars like Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and recent Oscar winner Jared Leto rumored for the project for some time, could the studio turn to one of them instead of start the process over again? It's certainly possible. No reason was given for Phoenix's name dropping off the list, but it's safe to assume that he and the studio just didn't jive well with one another. Phoenix is known for being picky about his projects and enjoys his creative freedom. Marvel, on the other hand, is all about the long game and would have likely cramped his style.
That's it for the news this week! Tell us, who would you like to see play Doctor Strange now that Joaquin Phoenix is out of the equation? Would Ethan Hawke have been a good replacement? Sound off with your thoughts on that and the other news from this week in the comments below.James was never in the running for Doctor Strange. However, he's still worth following on Twitter, if for nothing more than his wit and good looks.