Doctor Strange (2016) (Exclusive Series Special) (Disney Plus)
- Matt Palmer
- May 12, 2022
- 3 min read
*** Don't miss the highly anticipated release of 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' now playing at the Dietrich***
Initial release date: November 4, 2016
Studios: Walt Disney Pictures/ Marvel Studios
Tagline: Open your mind. Change your reality.
Plot: Dr. Stephen Strange’s life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.
Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch - Dr. Stephen Strange
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Mordo
Rachel McAdams - Dr. Christine Palmer
Benedict Wong - Wong
Mads Mikkelsen - Kaecilius
Tilda Swinton - The Ancient One
Benjamin Pratt - Jonathan Panghorn
Scott Atkins - Lucian
Topo Wresniwiro - Hamir
Umit Ulgen - Sol Rama
Writer(s): Jon Spaihts (Dune; The Mummy; Passengers)
Scott Derrickson (Sinister; the upcoming The Black Phone)
C. Robert Cargill (Sinister; Sinister 2; the upcoming The Black Phone)
Director: Scott Derrickson (the upcoming The Black Phone; Deliver Us From Evil; Sinister)
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence (115 minutes)
The 2016 MCU movie ‘Doctor Strange’ is a complex and visually astounding origin story. There are quite a few compelling moments that feature lots of great intense action.
Even though the origin story can feel a little generic at times, ‘Doctor Strange’ can also be very gripping and is really fast-paced. And, despite the generic, sorta predictable feel, the story can also feel fresh and exciting. The visual effects are really awesome and, just like the other MCU entries, you will enjoy this 2016 origin story.
‘Doctor Strange' can currently be streamed on Disney Plus and don’t miss the highly anticipated sequel, ‘Multiverse of Madness,’ now playing at the Dietrich!
Here are quite a few interesting tidbits for ‘Doctor Strange’:
Mads Mikkelson admitted that with all the CGI he got a bit lost on how to film his scenes, especially during the Mirror Dimension scenes.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is a fifth degree black belt in karate, so his movements are second nature in fighting.
Director Scott Derrickson is a big fan of Doctor Strange, and spent his own money on a concept video he pitched to Marvel so that he could get the job of directing the movie.
While filming, Cumberbatch walked into a comic book store, in full costume, and bought an actual Doctor Strange comic.
Although this is Strange’s first outing in an MCU solo movie, the character has been teased in earlier movies. In ‘Thor,’ the Orb of Agamotto can be seen among the treasures in Odin’s treasure chamber. In ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ the Crossroads is among the various phrases written on Selvig’s chalkboard; the Crossroads is an other-dimensional reality that has a prominent role in the comics. In ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ Jasper Sitwell mentions Doctor Strange as one of the high-risk targets that HYDRA keeps under surveillance.
One of the relics in the New York Sanctum is a white mask with an ankh next to it. This is a reference to the Moon Knight, a superhero who was empowered (and sometimes possessed) by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu and wielded a stick shaped like an ankh.
Between 1986 and 2005, five attempts were made at a ‘Doctor Strange’ film by Bob Gale, Alex Cox, Wes Craven, David S. Goyer, and Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro’s version would have been co-written by Neil Gaiman.
This is the second live-action adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Doctor Strange. The first came out in 1978.
During the mid-credits scene, when Strange is talking to Thor he can be seen wearing yellow gloves as an homage to his comic book costume, where he had to wear them to protect his hands.
Columbia Pictures initially purchased the film rights in April 1997. By April 2000, the studio dropped the project. Over the years, Miramax, Dimension Films (defunct) and Paramount have acquired the rights at some point over the years.
‘Doctor Strange’ held its world premiere in Hong Kong on October 13, 2016. It has grossed $232.6 million in the US and Canada and $445.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $677.8 million.
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