The True Story Behind Wes Craven's Failed Doctor Strange Movie

The early-to-mid '90s saw the rapid rise (and equally rapid fall) of Savoy Pictures, which was founded in 1992 by former Columbia and TriStar exec Victor Kaufman.

With all that studio experience under his belt, Kaufman set an ambitious roadmap for Savoy, aiming for his company's name to be mentioned in the same breath as Paramount, Warner Bros., and even Disney. And how would this be achieved? Simple: by splashing the cash on some A-list talent, and making a bunch of great movies.

Of course, that's easier said than done, but Savoy did get off to a good start by lining up Anthony Hopkins, Robert de Niro, and Cuba Gooding Jr to star in its projects. The studio also had Doctor Strange in its back pocket and soon hired Wes Craven to both write and direct, aiming to go before cameras in 1993 or early 1994.

Craven was known for bloody horror movies like The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, so it's safe to assume that his take on Strange wouldn't have been breezy, comic-book schlock.

He doesn't seem like the most natural fit to direct Doctor Strange, but considering that Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie had just demonstrated that darker superhero flicks can work, it's understandable why Savoy would want to give him a shot.

It's unclear what exactly caused Craven's movie to fall apart, but the fact that Savoy released a string of box-office bombs - like the 1994 double-whammy Serial Mom and No Escape - surely didn't help Strange's movie prospects.