Suicide Squad hit theaters last week, but we haven’t seen the end of superhero movies in 2016 just yet. Marvel Studios’ second outing of the year, Doctor Strange, opens this November, and a pair of new images from the mysticism-drenched feature have landed online. Whereas Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy stood out as space-based outings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in contrast to the more grounded, earth-centric Iron Man and Captain America franchises, Doctor Strange forges new territory as it introduces interdimensionality to the mix, which could have some serious ramifications for the MCU going forward.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars a neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of his hands following a car accident, goes in search of a cure that brings him in contact with the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), a figure who teaches him the ways of mysticism. As we’ve seen in the trailers, this opens the door for parallel dimensions and alterations of reality, which again I’m very curious to see play out within the MCU. Once you introduce the idea of an alternate reality where things maybe went a different way, you have the opportunity to re-introduce characters who befell a dire fate and/or change the outcome of events entirely.
But first, we’ve got Strange’s standalone film, and it certainly looks interesting. Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose helmer Scott Derrickson landed the directing job, and it’ll be interesting to see what the horror and drama-centric filmmaker brings to the blockbuster superhero realm. When Collider’s own Steve Weintraub caught up with Marvel president Kevin Feige at Comic-Con, he stressed that Doctor Strange offers up some incredible possibilities in terms of 3D presentation.
Check out a pair of new images below, via EW. Doctor Strange opens in theaters on November 4th and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, and Michael Stuhlbarg.
Here’s the official synopsis for Doctor Strange:
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.
