Now's a good time to brush up on your Infinity Stone trivia.
A new, 30-second ad for Marvel's Doctor Strange really wants to stress the importance of time in the upcoming superhero film which stars Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. Now while this repetitive message may just be a strange way to remind you that the mystical, magical elements of the Sorcerer Supreme's origin story are going to be a real mindtrip, we think it's actually a clever (though not so subtle) way of reminding Marvel fans that some Infinity Stones have yet to be claimed. Perhaps Dr. Stephen Strange has more on his hands than even he understands ...
Also starring Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, Mads Mikkelsen as the nefarious Kaecillius, along with Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Benjamin Bratt,Doctor Strange opens in theaters on November 4th.
From Marvel comes “Doctor Strange,” the story of 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 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. Join Strange on his dangerous, mystifying, and totally mind-bending journey when Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” opens in U.S. theaters on November 4, 2016.
For more on Doctor Strange, be sure to check out some of our recent write-ups, followed by Cumberbatch introducing Marvel's charitable "Hero Acts" campaign:
Here's the current status of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Stones as we approach the release date of Doctor Strange:
Space Stone - One of the first stones in the MCU was hidden in plain sight within the Tesseract. It's currently locked away in Odin's vault on Asgard.
Reality Stone - Known as "the Aether" in the MCU, this stone converts matter into dark matter and ultimately consumes any living host it's bonded to. Thinking it unwise to keep two Infinity Stones in the same vault, the Asgardians entrusted its care to Taneleer Tivan, "The Collector."
Power Stone - Contained within "The Orb", the Guardians of the Galaxy gave this artifact to the Nova Corps for safe-keeping.
Mind Stone - The latest Infinity Stone was also among the first to be introduced, having been embedded in Loki's scepter. After Hydra agents used its power to enhance Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, Tony Stark used it to develop the ultimate AI, Ultron. It's currently empowering the android Vision and is trusted under his care.
Soul Stone - As far as I can tell, we haven't seen this gem in the MCU, but in the comics it has passed through a variety of hands, including Adam Warlock, Thanos, Nebula, the Hulk, and Doctor Strange himself. Could Thanos already be in possession of this stone, thus granting him even more enhanced abilities by the time he comes into contact with The Avengers?
Time Stone - As you could probably guess by the above teaser video, we're betting on Doctor Strange himself being in possession of this stone. Whether that is still the case at the end of Doctor Strange remains to be seen.
Today in a special video message, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, star of Marvel Studios’ upcoming film “Doctor Strange,” announced the launch of Marvel Studios: Hero Acts, a new charitable initiative focused on bringing help and hope to kids around the world.
Marvel Studios is launching the first Hero Acts campaign today, and from now until the end of the year, Marvel Studios will donate five dollars ($5) to Save the Children, up to U.S. one million dollars, for every fan who uploads a photo of themselves in their favorite Marvel hero pose.
Marvel Studios is collaborating with Fotition, a new social change platform, to power the experience on a brand-new website MarvelStudiosHeroActs.com. Fans will be able to visit the site to upload their photo and choose from a selection of custom Marvel-themed overlays. They will then be able to post their photo directly to the Hero Acts gallery and to their other social channels using the hashtags #marvelstudios #heroacts.
“After the experience of filming portions of ‘Doctor Strange’ in Nepal, our team was inspired to give back to the kids there and wanted to establish a larger ongoing program in support of children facing extraordinary circumstances,” said Kevin Feige, Producer & President, Marvel Studios. “For our first Marvel Studios: Hero Acts effort, we’re thrilled to team up with Save the Children, an organization with decades of experience improving the lives of children around the world.”
With fan participation, the donations made through Hero Acts can help Save the Children provide much-needed learning materials for as many as 123,000 kids in Nepal, Haiti, and the United States. Together, Marvel Studios and its fans can help put these children on a path where they can learn, thrive, and strive toward a better future.
“Save the Children is extremely grateful to be the first nonprofit organization to be part of Marvel Studios: Hero Acts,” said Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children. “Even though more children are enrolled in primary school worldwide than ever before, many are struggling to learn and to get a quality education. That is why this collaboration is so valuable. The funds raised through Hero Acts will provide much-needed learning materials in communities where there are few resources, and will boost children’s basic skills to help them succeed in school and in life. The actions taken by Marvel fans will make a meaningful difference for children.”
Whether visiting children in hospitals, granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, or inspiring kids and families through our content, Marvel Studios: Hero Acts builds on the tradition of lending a hand to children in times of need. From our filmmakers to our fans, we believe we each have our own superpower to lend to the world, and Marvel Studios is dedicated to bringing that out in everyone.
