Development continues on Marvel Studios comic book adaptation of a younger version of Marvel Comics' 'Sorcerer Supreme', "Dr. Strange", with Disney very interested in getting in on a potential, billion dollar earning, "Harry Potter"-type 'sorcery' movie franchise.
According to reports, the latest screenplay draft by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer ("Conan the Barbarian"), has been turned in, with Marvel Studios preparing a list of potential directors.
Following their Marvel Comics' success with "The Amazing Spider-Man", creators Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko debuted 'Doctor Strange' in the comic book "Strange Tales" #110 (July 1963), fashioning the physical look of the character after creator Lee Falk's popular, 1930's comic strip character "Mandrake The Magician".
'Dr. Stephen Strange' was an arrogant, world-renowned neurosurgeon, until a car accident damaged his hands, preventing him from conducting surgery. In desperation, a bitter Strange seeks out a legendary Tibetan hermit living in a 'Lost Horizon' of the Himalayas who may have the cure to his debilitating condition.
Strange finds 'The Ancient One', possessed of the knowledge of sorcerous spells and incantations, invoking names and aspects of extra-dimensional objects and beings of power.
Some of these phenomena include the 'Flames of the Faltine', the 'Shades of the Seraphim' and the 'Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth'.
When Strange selflessly thwarts the evil ambitions of the Ancient One's disciple 'Baron Mordo', the 500-year old wizard tutors Strange in the 'mystic arts', teaching him how to use magical artifacts to augment his power, including the 'Cloak of Levitation', the all-seeing 'Eye of Agamotto' and the 'Book of the Vishanti'.
Strange's residence in New York's Greenwich Village, referred to as his 'Sanctum Sanctorum', figured prominently in stories focusing on extra-dimensional battles in the Big Apple.
Strange uses his magic to achieve a number of effects, including energy projection, teleportation, telepathy and astral projection.
Strange was also schooled in the use of addictive and corruptive 'dark magic' by one-time foe 'Kaluu', using it to destroy the entity known as 'Shuma-Gorath'.
Doctor Strange has been featured in several self-titled Marvel Comics series and Marvel-endorsed products including arcade/video games, animated TV series, a direct-to-DVD film and merchandise including trading cards.Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Doctor Strange"...
