While Ewan McGregor’s iconic portrayal resonates heavily with audiences who grew up during the “phantom menace” era of his Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi, he almost entered a completely different realm of superhuman powers within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Prior to Benedict Cumberbatch gracefully donning the mystic arts costume in “Doctor Strange”, rumors and whispers floated that Scottish actor, Mc Gregor, was being considered for the sorcerer supreme role.
Several casting articles from early in 2017 painted a picture of potential multiverse storylines where characters like Tony Stark could interact with magic alongside other interweaving narrative threads . McGregor’s existing fame with franchises – particularly his dedication to building Kenobi across multiple projects – certainly held valuable assets from a marketing perspective for Marvel Studios. Perhaps Mcgregor also brings a certain measured charisma, sometimes teetering on stoicism, which resonates strongly with character’s seeking wisdom through perilous times – much akin to Doctor Strange’s initial struggles.
However, as is often the case in Hollywood’s labyrinth and world of rumors, Marvel likely weighed countless factors such as performance range within dialogue-heavy scenes, ability to carry both comedic quips alongside intense moments of sorcery combat sequences, plus overall vision alignment with Scott Derricksons (Director of Doctor Strange) direction. Benedict Cumberbatch ultimately proved the perfect embodiment due a captivating intensity and vulnerability that allowed him to draw layers into what was more than a mystical superhero role.
Though seemingly missed opportunity on surface level, this casting “what if,” adds an intriguing note upon reflection of cinematic heroes and whether alternate paths might lead audiences to appreciate these characters quite differently. One can certainly envision McGregor grappling the Cloak of Levitation with a different flair, ultimately leading us down alternative paths through magic .