Doctor Strange: Marvel's seeking Mads Mikkelsen as villain

Marvel's Doctor Strange may have Mads Mikkelsen playing as one of its villains, according to a new report. The actor is said to be in early talks with the studio, which has previously cast Benedict Cumberbatch to play Stephen Vincent Strange, also known as Sorcerer Supreme. At this point there hasn't been an offer extended to Mikkelsen, according to sources, but reportedly it is expected one will be made shortly, and if so an official announcement will likely follow soon after.

The information comes from Variety, which reports that it has received word from sources that aren't certain about which role Mikkelsen — if he gets an offer — will play. The only thing known about it is that he'll be playing one of the antagonists, which is to say one of the villains challenging Strange.

The movie is being directed by Scott Derrickson, whose presence has raised questions about whether Marvel will use this movie to dabble in the darker genre. The movie's script was written by Jon Spaihts, and Kevin Feige is producing. The movie is set to hit theaters in November 2016, while the production will be starting later on this year.

Reportedly, Marvel has been eyeing Mikkelsen for a role "for some time", at least according to Variety, having first eyed him for the role of Malekith in Thor: The Dark World. Mikkelsen ended up playing NBC's Hannibal instead, which took up his time. With that out of the way, he's now free to pursue other projects. Before Dr. Strange, though, we'll be seeing the actor in the next Star Wars movie.

SOURCE: Variety