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How Joaquin Phoenix's Doctor Strange Rejection Affected MCU Hiring Process
Though some may have a hard time seeing anyone else in the role, Joaquin Phoenix nearly starred in Doctor Strange, but his rejection for the film affected the Marvel Cinematic Universe's hiring process. The 2016 film marked the proper MCU debut of Stephen Strange, an arrogant neurosurgeon who turns to the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions in the hopes of healing his hands that were left severely damaged by a car crash. Strange would find himself pulled into a battle to keep the world safe from the forces of evil as Master of the Mystic Arts Kaecilius attempts to open a portal to the Dark Dimension and invite Dormammu to feed on the world.
Development on a Doctor Strange film languished for over 30 years, with Stan Lee even co-writing a script in the late '80s while rights issues between Marvel and Warner Bros. and other studios resulted in various versions being canceled. As Marvel began putting together their interconnected universe of films based on lesser-known characters, the gears slowly began turning on bringing Doctor Strange to the big screen, with Sinister's Scott Derrickson being tapped to direct and co-write the script with his frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill and Dune's Jon Spaihts in 2014. Casting would get underway shortly thereafter with Marvel, Derrickson and Spaihts all envisioning Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange, though one other celebrated actor nearly took on the role.
In a recent interview with The Direct, Paul Sarker opened up about how Joaquin Phoenix's Doctor Strange rejected affected the MCU's hiring process. The former Marvel attorney explains that the future Oscar winner had a deal in place for the film that was "pretty far along," but that when he turned down the deal, it changed Marvel's approach to creating long-term contracts with stars for the MCU. See what Sarker explained below:
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"But to be perfectly honest, the Joaquin Phoenix thing was unique to me, because there was a deal and because it was pretty far along. And we were hopeful that it would close, but it didn't. And that happens. And that to bring it back full circle, things like that may be why Kevin is saying we don't want to do these super long-term deals because we want to see what works and if it works, and people want to do more than we'd love to have [them]. We don't want someone to feel like they're forced.”
As Sarker implies, Phoenix's Doctor Strange rejection largely stemmed from his concerns over there being "too many requirements" for the character that would affect his performance. Recent years have seen Marvel move away from the long-term deals for the cast members of their projects, with Oscar Isaac notably only signing on to star in Moon Knight, despite Kevin Feige's reportedly major plans for the character in the MCU moving forward. Additionally, as rumors swirl of a new Spider-Man MCU trilogy in development with Sony, star Tom Holland has confirmed that the deal entails an "open conversation" between him and the studios of how he can return as the young webslinger.
Though he may have turned down the opportunity to star in the MCU, Phoenix's Doctor Strange rejection wouldn't keep him entirely out of the comic book movie genre. Phoenix would score widespread acclaim for his leading turn in Todd Phillips' Joker, which netted him his first Oscar win, and is set to return for the recently confirmed Joker 2, which also has Lady Gaga in talks to star as Harley Quinn. Audiences can revisit Benedict Cumberbatch's tenure as Doctor Strange with his various MCU projects streaming on Disney+ now.
