Doctor Strange is clearly inspired by the character's Steve Ditko era adventures (not to mention modern tales like The Oath), but it looks set to take some very interesting liberties with the source material. Perhaps the biggest is the way Baron Mordo is being portrayed as the character will be an ally rather than enemy in the movie. He's totally turning on the Sorcerer Supreme by the final act though, right? Don't be so sure as Kevin Feige points to this being a totally fresh take on the character.
"[Mordo] is Strange’s advocate in the beginning of the movie. The Ancient One doesn’t necessarily see the potential in Strange that Mordo does, and Mordo is the one who talks the Ancient One into allowing him in. And for this film, he is a partner of Strange, and he is a mentor to Strange. You know that was something we wanted to play against in the comics. Because in the comics for as unbelievably creative and full of imagination as they are – we are desperate to recreate in cinematic form – there’s some things that are too obvious for modern day audiences. The jealous rival named Baron von Mordo, who turns against him when he shows any signs of talent – we specifically didn’t want to do that."
That sounds like an interesting approach, but obviously one that leaves the door open to Marvel possibly taking him down a villainous path in a sequel if he were to find himself seduced by Dormammu's promises of power for example. Alternatively, he could just stay a hero! Regardless, Feige went on to confirm that Dormammu's home will be mentioned here without confirming whether we'll actually get to see him make some sort of appearance (that would make a good mid-credits scene...).
"What we're playing with in this world is that there are dimensions. That the other dimensions are not just parallel realities -although some of them are - but [there is the] Dark Dimension, where Dormammu inhabits. There are dimensions that are so mind-bending that you can barely perceive them."
Finally, Feige was asked about the decision to cast Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer rather than a fan-favourite love interest like Clea. "We wanted a grounded character. We wanted a character that was a connection to Strange’s life in New York City, in the normal world. Somebody that could be his anchor to the real world, to his present in the beginning of the film, and by the time he re-encounters her, wearing that, someone who can comment on his transformation as a character."
Again, Clea seems like someone who could show up in a sequel when Dormammu is properly introduced, so Marvel probably made the right decision here. What do you guys think?
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