Benedict Cumberbatch in First Revealed Image as Dr. Strange

Marvel Studios, through Entertainment Weekly, has released the first image of Doctor Strange for their up-coming superhero film about a brilliant neurosurgeon who is injured in a car accident that ends his career, though he’s given a new lease on life when he encounters the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), a mystic who trains Strange to be the next sorcerer supreme, showing him incredible magic and different dimensions.

courtesy EW

Not much is known beyond the basic plot, and Cumberbatch admits that this photo is the first time he tried on the costume, trying out some of the gestures he needs to refine for the character.

“I’m still in the infancy of learning all that,” Cumberbatch said. “It was like, okay, I’ve got to keep throwing these poses, these spells, these rune-casting things, everything he does physically. I’m thinking, there’s going to be a huge amount of speculation and intrigue over the positioning of that finger as opposed to it being there, or there. And I’m still working on that. We haven’t played any of those scenes yet. I felt really self-conscious. But, then, by the end, it was great. It’s like anything, you just have to experiment.”

The superhero film has a large A-list cast, including Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, though their roles have not all be identified. Swinton has claimed the Ancient One has not be gender-identified yet, though she’ll be appearing as a woman, the character is less defined by this. Written by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) and directed by Scott Derrickson (Deliver Us From Evil), the movies is set to release early November, 2016.

Doctor Strange debuted in the comics in 1963, being the primary protector for earth against magic and mystics. Created by Stan Lee (of course) and Steve Ditko, the character has undergone a few changes over the years, and has been featured more recently as a supporting character in The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series, eventually making appearances in the The New Avengers and a strong opponent of the Superhuman Registration Act, which will figure prominently in Captain America: Civil War (2016).

Doctor Strange is part of Marvel’s Phase 3, being the first in four more origin film’s including a new Spider-Man and Black Panther (both of whom will debut in Captain America: Civil War) and then Captain Marvel and Inhumans coming later. While Strange will be a stand-alone film, much like Ant-Man (2015), other Marvel figures will be mentioned, as Strange does live in the same Marvel Universe.

Is Cumberbatch the right choice for the arrogant Doctor Strange? What do you think about more Marvel characters? Tell us in the comments below.