Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Make A Doctor Strange Movie

Doctor Strange is arriving in theaters this fall, and will blow the Marvel Cinematic Universe wide open into new realms and dimensions of magic and mysticism. While on the set of Doctor Strange, Comicbook.com had a chance to speak with the filmmakers (specifically Marvel Studios Head Kevin Feige) to learn more about mystic side of the MCU - and why it's only being revealed now.

MCU Phases I and II introduced everything from advanced science and tech to extraterrestrial life and tech, so one would think mysticism would've been easy to add to the mix. In speaking to Marvel's Kevin Feige on set, it seems he agrees that Doctor Strange could've happened before now, saying, "I don't know that a movie like Doctor Strange couldn't have been the second film that we made or the third film that we made. I don't think we're doing anything in it that requires past viewing. As opposed to Civil War, which we wouldn't have done as the first movie or second movie because so much of that film is based on the pre-existing relationships between the characters."

Feige raises a good point about what a natural byproduct of MCU continuity: the push-pull between continuing to weave deeper into what's been established, vs. the novelty of introducing new threads. Marvel Studios is quickly mastering the balance of doing both, and Phase III is poised to be a kind of simultaneous culmination of all that's happened so far (films like Captain America: Civil War, Avenger: Inifinty War), and an introduction to new worlds and characters (Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel).

Feige understands those two sides better than anyone, which is why he thinks that now is good time for himself and the other creative minds at Marvel Studios to get some new characters to play with: "The more films we make, the more we get to do with those pre-existing relationships. When it comes to a movie like Ant-Man or a movie like Guardians or certainly, Doctor Strange, it's just bringing to life stuff that has already been there in the comics and finally, we get a chance to do it on the big screen."

MORE: Reveals from the Doctor Strange Set!

Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming– July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; and Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019