Doctor Strange

Did You Know?

• Doctor Strange is the 14th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and introduces the character of Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon-turned-sorcerer.
• Benedict Cumberbatch was cast as Doctor Strange after a lengthy search for the right actor, with Cumberbatch bringing his signature intensity and charisma to the role.
• The film was inspired by the 1960s Doctor Strange comics, particularly the stories written by Stan Lee and drawn by Steve Ditko, which introduced the mystical elements of the character.
• Tilda Swinton’s casting as the Ancient One was controversial, as the character was originally depicted as an elderly Tibetan man in the comics. The decision to cast Swinton was part of an effort to avoid racial stereotyping.
• The film’s visual effects, particularly in sequences involving the manipulation of time and space, were groundbreaking and helped establish Doctor Strange as one of the MCU’s most visually distinctive films.
• Scott Derrickson, the film’s director, is known for his work in the horror genre, having directed films like Sinister (2012) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), which influenced the darker tone of the film.
• Doctor Strange features a cameo by Stan Lee, who appears in a humorous scene inside the library.
• The film’s action scenes, particularly the fight sequences set in the Mirror Dimension, were choreographed with an emphasis on physics-defying movements, adding a unique flavor to the typical superhero fight scenes.
• The movie marks the first appearance of the mystical and alternate dimension-based side of the MCU, which was later expanded in Avengers: Infinity War and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
• The soundtrack, composed by Michael Giacchino, features a blend of orchestral and mystical music that complements the film’s themes of magic, mystery, and transformation.