Benedict Cumberbatch Will Star in Marvel's Doctor Strange—and Find Out the Release Date!

Actor's name had been at the center of speculation for the role

UPDATE: It's official! Marvel announced today that Benedict Cumberbatch will star in Dr. Strange, which now has a Nov. 4, 2016, release date. "Stephen Strange's story requires an actor capable of great depth and sincerity," says producer Kevin Feige. "In 2016, Benedict will show audiences what makes Doctor Strange such a unique and compelling character."

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Could it be true?! Has Marvel finally named their Doctor Strange?

According to Deadline, the studio has just begun negotiations with Benedict Cumberbatch as their superhero, after talks with other stars like Joaquin Pheonix, Tom Hardy and Jared Leto fell through.

Cumberbatch has been at the center of casting rumors for months now, and most recently addressed the hype during an appearance at Comic-Con for his film The Penguins of Madagascar.

"What rumors?" he laughed during a press conference when a reporter asked about the hullabaloo surrounding the free-standing Marvel flick. 

Cumberbatch added, "anything can happen" before asking, "Doctor who?"

Thus far there's been quite a shroud of secrecy surrounding the future film, save for the fact that Scott Derrickson has signed on to direct while Jon Spaihts is currently penning the script.

The first draft of the Doctor Strange screenplay was written by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer.

Stephen Strange, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in the early '60s, is a neurosurgeon who travels to the ends of the Earth to find a cure that will restore his hands following a freak accident.

However, after meeting a mysterious sorcerer known as the Ancient One, he follows in his footsteps in an effort to protect the world from evil.

And while Marvel has yet to confirm or deny the latest rumors surrounding the highly anticipated and increasingly secretive film, someone very close to the studio has been sending subtle hints about Cumberbatch's involvement in the movie.

Ryan Penagos, the executive editorial director of Marvel's digital media group, has been tweeting GIFs of famous characters laughing—leaving many to believe that he's indirectly responding to the latest casting rumors.

(Originally published Oct. 27, 2014, at 3:17 p.m. PT)