5 actors join Ewan McGregor on Marvel’s shortlist to play Doctor Strange

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Ewan McGregor might be in the running to play Doctor Strange, but of course he’s not the only actor Marvel is considering for the role. Variety is reporting that besides McGregor, there are also five other actors currently on Marvel’s shortlist to play the Sorcerer Supreme.

According to the site, Jared Leto and Ethan Hawke are being eyed for Doctor Strange, and both have been previously rumored to be up for the part. Leto is a little picky when it comes to his movie projects, but according to sources the actor is “aggressively pursuing” the role. Hawke was one of the first rumored contenders for Doctor Strange after Joaquin Phoenix decided not to join the film, and Variety says he’s still interested in playing the character.

The other three actors Marvel is apparently looking at for the role are Jake Gyllenhaal, Matthew McConaughey and Oscar Isaac. Sources say it might be hard for Marvel to land McConaughey for Doctor Strange, but the studio believes they can get almost anyone they want for the part since Joaquin Phoenix was thinking about playing the character, and it’s not like Phoenix stars in every movie that is offered to him. Sources also say executives really want Matthew McConaughey for Doctor Strange.

Jake Gyllenhaal has appeared in some dark movies lately (PRISONERS, ENEMY, NIGHTCRAWLER), and Variety’s sources say because of that, the actor is “quite interested in playing a superhero.” Oscar Isaac is a little busy right now with STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, and depending on the size of his role might also appear in the sequels, however the actor is still on Marvel’s Doctor Strange shortlist.

Which actor do you want to see play Doctor Strange in the Scott Derrickson film?

DOCTOR STRANGE is scheduled to hit theaters on July 8, 2016.