Chiwetel Ejiofor will trade dark magic with Benedict Cumberbatch as an iconic Marvel villain in Doctor Strange.
The actor was linked to a mystery role in Marvel's cosmic epic in January, and now Deadline is reporting that he will play Baron Mordo.
Baron Mordo and Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange have been depicted in Marvel Comics as mortal enemies dating back to 1963. Both were trained in the ways of sorcery by the supernatural being known as the Ancient One, but Mordo would eventually turn against his mentor.
The website reports that Ejiofor's version of Mordo will blend elements from Marvel's traditional depiction of Baron Mordo and other comic villains.
Doctor Strange is also expected to feature Tilda Swinton as a gender-swapped version of the Ancient One.
Cumberbatch's own casting in the title role was announced late last year, with the actor later promising that Doctor Strange will bring a "huge new element" to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Doctor Strange - directed by Deliver Us from Evil's Scott Derrickson - is expected to begin production this autumn at Pinewood-Shepperton Studios, with a cinema release set for November 4, 2016.
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
