Hannibal Star May Play Villain in Marvel's Dr Strange

He's known for playing one of the most iconic bad guys on TV--Hannibal Lector, in NBC's now sadly cancelled Hannibal. Now Mads Mikkelsen may once again play a villain in Marvel's upcoming fantasy adventure Dr Strange.

Variety have reported that the Danish actor is in "early talks" to star alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the film, due for release next year. The movie will form the second part of Marvel Studios's Phase Three, and is directed by Scott Derrickson, best known for horror films such as Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

The role that Mikkelsen is being touted for is unknown, but Variety's sources confirm that he will join 12 Years a Slave Oscar-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor as one of Stephen Strange's adversaries. Ejiofor has been cast as the evil Baron Mordo, while Tilda Swinton is playing Strange's mentor, the Ancient One.

At Disney's recent D23 expo, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed concept art for the film, and commented that it would be "as weird as anything we've done." In an interview for JoBlo.com, Derrickson explained why he felt that he was the right man for the job: "I think when you consider the work that I've done, it makes sense that he'd be my favorite comic book character, at least in the Marvel universe," he said. "Probably the only comic character in that mainstream world that I'm suited to.

"I feel such an affinity for the character and the story and the ambition of those comics. I wanted it really bad. More than any other project that I've gone after, I felt compelled to do everything in my power to get on that project. Genuinely felt like I was the right guy to do it."

Dr Strange will be only the second Marvel film to break from the tradition of a summer release. Appropriately enough it is coming to cinemas a few days after Halloween, on November 4, 2016. Mikkelsen is also part of the cast of the first Star Wars spinoff, Rogue One, due a few weeks later on December 16, 2016.