Doctor Strange (film)

"What if I told you the reality you know is one of many?"

- Ancient One to Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is a 2016 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero Doctor Strange. It is the fourteenth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while also being the second installment of Phase Three.

Synopsis
From Marvel comes Doctor Strange, the story of the world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing, and hope, in an unlikely place - a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Before long Strange -- armed with newly acquired magical powers - is forced to to choose whether to return to his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Plot
In Kathmandu, Nepal, the sorcerer Kaecilius and his Zealots enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and murder its librarian, keeper of ancient and mystical texts. They steal a ritual from a book forbidden by the Ancient One, a sorcerer who has lived for an unknown time and taught all at Kamar-Taj in the ways of the mystic arts, including Kaecilius. The Ancient One pursues the traitors, but Kaecilius escapes with the pages and some of his followers.

Stephen Strange, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, loses the use of his hands in a car accident. His former lover and co-worker Christine Palmer tries to help him move on, but the arrogant Strange instead wants to heal his injuries. After months trying experimental surgeries on his hands, and using all his resources, Strange seeks out Jonathan Pangborn, a paraplegic who mysteriously was able to walk again. Pangborn directs Strange to Kamar-Taj, where he is taken in by another sorcerer under the Ancient One, Karl Mordo. The Ancient One shows Strange her power, revealing the Astral plane and other dimensions such as the Mirror Dimension. Strange begs her to teach him, and she eventually agrees despite his arrogance, which reminds her of Kaecilius.

Strange begins his tutelage under the Ancient One and Mordo, and learns from the ancient books in the library which is now protected by the master Wong. It is explained that Earth is protected from other dimensions by a spell formed from three buldings called Sanctums, found in New York City, London, and Hong Kong. The task of the sorcerers is to protect the Sanctums, though Pangborn chose to forgo this responsibility in favor of channeling energy into walking again; Strange will have to decide between regaining the use of his hands and defending the world. Strange advances quickly over a few months, even secretly reading from the forbidden texts and learning to bend time with the mystical Eye of Agamotto. Mordo and Wong warn Strange against using such power and breaking the laws of nature, comparing his arrogant yearning for power to that of Kaecilius, who believes that everyone should live as long as the Ancient One after the deaths of his loved ones.

Kaecilius and his followers use the stolen pages to begin summoning the powerful Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, where time does not exist and all can live forever. This destroys the London Sanctum, and sends Strange from Kamar-Taj to the New York Sanctum. Kaecilius and the Zealots then clash there, where Strange holds them off with the mystical Cloak of Levitation until Mordo and the Ancient One arrive. Strange and Mordo become disillusioned with the Ancient One after Kaecilius reveals that her long life has come from her own use of Dormammu's power. Kaecilius mortally wounds the Ancient One, and escapes to Hong Kong. The Ancient One tells Strange that he too will have to break the rules, to balance out Mordo's steadfast nature, before dying despite the best efforts of Strange and a bewildered Palmer. Strange and Mordo arrive in Hong Kong to find Wong dead and the Sanctum destroyed, with the Dark Dimension already engulfing Earth. Strange uses the Eye to turn back time and save Wong, before creating an infinite time loop inside the Dark Dimension that traps himself and Dormammu in the same moment forever. Dormammu agrees to leave Earth if Strange breaks the loop, taking Kaecilius and his zealots.

Disgusted by Strange and the Ancient One's disregard for the consequences of defying nature, Mordo severs all ties to Kamar-Taj and departs on his own. Strange returns the Eye, which Wong calls an Infinity Stone, to Kamar-Taj, and then takes up residence in the New York Sanctum to continue his studies. In a mid-credits scene, Strange is visited there by Thor, who has brought his brother Loki to Earth to search for their father Odin. In a post-credits scene, several months after the defeat of Dormammu, Mordo visits Pangborn and steals the energy he uses to walk, stating his intention to stop the continued misuse of power by Earth's sorcerers.

Cast

 * Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange / Dormammu (motion capture)
 * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo
 * Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer
 * Benedict Wong as Wong
 * Michael Stuhlbarg as Nicodemus West
 * Benjamin Bratt as Jonathan Pangborn
 * Scott Adkins as Lucian
 * Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius
 * Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One
 * Linda Louise Duan as Tina Minoru
 * Mark Anthony Brighton as Daniel Drumm
 * Topo Wresniwiro as Hamir
 * Stan Lee as Bus Passenger
 * Amy Landecker as Dr. Bruner (deleted scene)
 * Chris Hemsworth as Thor (mid-credits scene)

Locations

 * New York City, New York
 * Metro-General Hospital
 * Stephen Strange's Apartment
 * New York Sanctum Sanctorum
 * Jonathan Pangborn's Workshop
 * Avengers Tower
 * Kathmandu, Nepal
 * Kamar-Taj
 * Mount Everest
 * London, United Kingdom
 * London Sanctum
 * Hong Kong, China
 * Hong Kong Sanctum
 * Multiverse
 * Astral Dimension
 * Mirror Dimension
 * Dark Dimension
 * Tokyo, Japan (mentioned)
 * Asgard (mentioned)

Events

 * Theft of the Book of Cagliostro
 * Attack on the Sanctorums
 * Battle at the Sanctum Sanctorum
 * Skirmish on the Astral Plane
 * Chase of the Zealots
 * Battle at the Hong Kong Sanctum
 * Skirmish on the Dark Dimension

Items

 * Eye of Agamotto
 * Time Stone
 * Sling Ring
 * Cloak of Levitation
 * Book of Cagliostro
 * Quarterstaff
 * Staff of the Living Tribunal
 * Boots of Valtorr
 * Darkforce
 * Scythe Daggers
 * Staff of One
 * Wand of Watoomb
 * Zealots' Swords
 * Daggers of Daveroth
 * Magic Fans

Sentient Species

 * Humans
 * Asgardians

Organizations

 * Masters of the Mystic Arts
 * Zealots
 * United States Air Force (mentioned)
 * United States Marine Corps (mentioned)
 * Avengers (mentioned)
 * (mentioned)

Mentioned

 * Adria
 * Kaecilius's Son
 * Agamotto
 * Living Tribunal
 * Loki
 * Odin
 * Beyoncé
 * Beyoncé
 * Beyoncé
 * Beyoncé
 * Beyoncé
 * Beyoncé

Production
Kevin Feige only had this to say, "I think 'Dr. Strange' would kick ass. I think we've done very well at the superhero genre, if you will, this street level superhero aspect of the Marvel Universe. I think with Thor you'll see us cracking into the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe in a very good way that's never been done before in our movies and I'd love to get into that supernatural element. I think that Dr. Strange could be a good way of being the lynchpin to that universe with Werewolf By Night, with Blade again someday – that side of the Marvel Universe."

In January 2013, Kevin Feige spoke about characters he considered might be going into development in Phase 3, "Doctor Strange, which I've been talking about for years, is definitely one of them. He's a great, original character, and he checks the box off this criteria that I have: he's totally different from anything else we have, just like Guardians Of The Galaxy."

On June 3, 2014 Scott Derrickson tweeted that his next movie will be Doctor Strange, and that casting directors were looking at and Benedict Cumberbatch for the lead role.

In August, 2014, conflicting reports were given as to the plot of the movie, whether or not it would be an origin story.

In September 2014, the film was announced to begin shooting in May 2015 at in the UK.

On August 29, 2014, it was announced that entered final negotiations.

On October 1, 2014, it was announced that talks with Phoenix have ended and the studio is actively searching for their lead actor. In December 2014, Deadline reported that Phoenix never had a deal with Marvel Studios. On October 27, 2014, it was revealed that Benedict Cumberbatch was in final negotiations to play Doctor Strange. At the end of October, it was announced on the Marvel Event Liveblog it will be released on November 4, 2016.

On December 4, 2014, Marvel finalized its deal with Benedict Cumberbatch to portray Stephen Strange.

On January 22, 2015, it was reported that Marvel is looking to cast  in an unspecified role. On June 11, 2015, Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast as Baron Mordo.

On July 14, 2015, Tilda Swinton was cast as the Ancient One.

On 15 August, 2015, at D23, Kevin Feige confirmed that Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tilda Swinton have joined the cast of Doctor Strange as Karl Mordo and the Ancient One, respectively, while also showing off new concept art for the series that gave fans their first look at the design of star Benedict Cumberbatch's costume.

According to Variety, Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen is in early talks to play one of the villians in the film. While sources say no offer has been delivered, one is expected shortly. Marvel officially announced Mikkelen's role when they announced that the movie had began production.

On July 23, 2016 at the San Diego Comic-Con, the second trailer was released.

Music

 * Doctor Strange – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
 * Pink Floyd
 * Beyoncé
 * Earth, Wind & Fire
 * Chuck Mangione