Since Marvel will be releasing a Doctor Strange movie at the end of 2016, there have been a few K-Zoners wondering who this mysterious Marvel character is – so I thought I’d share what I know! Now, I don’t know what the plot of the movie will be yet, so I’ll be talking about the character in the comics – just in case, be warned there might end up being spoilers in this post, depending on what the movie is about!

Doctor Stephen Strange was an excellent but arrogant doctor – one of the best surgeons in the business! He only really cared about wealth and getting further in his medical career. Unfortunately, the bones in Strange’s hands were shattered in an accident, and he was unable to ever operate again. Desperate to find a way to fix his hands, Strange travelled the world trying to find a cure.

Eventually, after running out of money and living on the streets, Strange found a hermit in the Himalayas called the Ancient One. The Ancient One refused to help Strange, sensing his selfishness, but after Strange committed a selfless act in order to save the hermit, the Ancient One accepted Strange as an apprentice and taught him the mystic arts. After completing his training, Strange returned to New York and made his home in the Sanctum Sanctorum, a townhouse located in Greenwich Village. In the comics, many Marvel characters have visited the Sanctum Sanctorum and called on Doctor Strange for help with mystical and magical threats.

As a sorcerer, Strange draws his power from magical entities and artefacts, and the full extent of his power is still unknown. He has been shown in the comics to be able to do magical acts such as energy projection, matter transformation, object animation, teleportation, illusion casting, mesmerism, astral projection, time travel and mental possession, plus heaps more! In addition to his magical abilities, Strange is trained in several martial arts, and obviously his history as a neurosurgeon means he is highly intelligent. Doctor Strange is one of the mightiest magicians in the cosmos, and has held the title of Sorcerer Supreme, primary protector of Earth against magical threats, for many years.

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch will be joining the Marvel family by playing Strange in the official film. K-Zoners will probably know Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug in The Hobbit. Cumberbatch was a fan favourite to be Strange because he looks so similar and has the right acting skills to portray such a strange character.

Credit: Getty Images

Here’s a photo of Benedict laughing at the idea of someone being able to beat him in a magical battle, and here’s another of him photobombing U2, because he’s awesome.

Marvel Co-President Louis D’Esposito recently took this picture with the director and producer of Doctor Strange, making it the first official snap from the set of the film. While we can’t see any of the actors around, this pic is sneakily showing off two important parts of Doctor Strange’s story. The door has the seal of Vishanti, the symbol of the school of magic Strange is taught in, and on the table is the Eye of Agamotto, an artifact that Strange often uses to negate evil magic.

I can’t wait to see what Marvel does with this sorcerer in the movie universe! Doctor Strange becoming a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is particularly exciting because it means the world of magic and mystical arts will be introduced into the same world as all the other superheroes we’ve seen on the big screen.

What do you think would be the coolest thing to do with magical powers? Let me know in the comments!