DC Films hoarded the early Saturday attention at San Diego Comic-Con with their shiny new trailers, but Marvel came in late with some fun stuff to show fans as well.
Perhaps the biggest reveal was the new preview for Doctor Strange, which was far better than the teaser trailer that was released four months ago. Principal photography wrapped in April, so with more action scenes filmed and digital effects rendered, Marvel and director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) had much better stuff to include this time around.
Check out the new trailer, which includes a few looks at Benedict Cumberbatch in costume:
Derrickson appears to be embracing the psychedelic and kaleidoscopic imagery associated with Doctor Strange from Steve Ditko’s original comic books, which has to be exciting for longtime fans of the character. Even for fans that aren’t diehards, much of the footage looks like nothing we’ve seen in a superhero film before, which seems refreshing.
(Hopefully, the movie doesn’t overdo it with that stuff.)
Though recent rumors have said that Marvel was no longer interested in telling origin stories since they tend to follow a similar narrative, the trailers give the impression that Doctor Strange is going to be the story of how surgeon Stephen Strange goes about becoming the Marvel Universe’s Sorcerer Supreme.
Maybe most of those developmental scenes are flashbacks. Perhaps the story will pick up with Strange hiking through the Himalayas in search of the mystical remedies (and The Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton) that he hopes will heal his hands, which are no longer capable of performing surgical procedures after he suffered through an auto accident.
Or maybe this whole thing is really an origin story for Rachel McAdams’ character since we still don’t really know what role she has in the film. (IMDB lists her as “Christine Palmer,” who is a Marvel character.) Geez, we’ll probably have to go see the movie to find out what the deal is.
We do know that Chiwetel Ejiofor is playing Baron Mordo, who appears to be Doctor Strange’s Obi-Wan Kenobi (those familiar with the comic books might not agree with that comparison), and that Mads Mikkelsen with his supernatural eyeshadow is the movie’s villain, reportedly named Kaecilius.
In addition to the trailer, Marvel also unveiled a new poster for the film which provides a great look at Strange’s costume, as well as maintaining some psychedelic elements.
Doctor Strange can be seen by all on the big screen Nov. 4.
