Chiwetel Ejiofor Will Play Baron Mordo in Doctor Strange

Chiwetel Ejiofor's involvement with the late 2016 film Doctor Strange has been long rumored, but today it was announced that the 12 Years a Slave star and Oscar nominated actor will be playing Baron Mordo, Doctor Strange's enemy. Deadline revealed the news alongside the fact that the character isn't going to be completely villainous for the film. He'll be more of an amalgamation of characters from Strange's mythology.

Ejiofor joins Tilda Swinton, who is playing The Ancient One and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange. Both Strange and Mordo were mentored by The Ancient One until Mordo tried to kill his teacher. Mordo's first appearance was in STRANGE TALES #111 back in 1963.

The film is being scripted by Jon Spaihts and directed by Scott Derrickson. Doctor Strange is set to release on November 4, 2016.

Looks just like him....0_o

Seems like a wasted opportunity to use a very good actor. He's going to be woefully underutilized.

Like the Ancient One casting they're both great actors but I prefer the actors resemble the comic characters.

@zackattack93: Why does that have to matter? Hemidal didn't look like Idris Elba, but he killed that part. And this dude, crushed in Serenity.

He's a fantastic actor, they better not kill him off, milk him for all he's worth.

@gotham331: He is a very good actor!

It was a joke. They sed the same over the casting of jimmy olsen on supergirl

Didnt mean it

Love this guy!

This dude was my Black Panther fan cast for ages.

Dr.Strange is too far for me to care.

@feartheliving: exactly. Not being racist or anything but your making a comic book film, at least make the characters accurate.

AWESOME

Another pointless ethnic change.

I am actually shocked that Marvel is willing to have a black guy as a villain instead of another rich white guy. That's progress!

@guardiandevil83: I meant he's a very good actor being used poorly

Itd be like if theyd cast tom hanks as black panther. Yes hes a great actor but he doesnt resemble the character

The Brits runs this movie

Wanted him for Brother Voodoo

Yessss hopefully Jon Spaihts manages to work the Marvel formula in such a way that Mordo isn't the typical under developed villian as plot mover and shaker Marvel normally goes with

@gotham331: Ahh I understand. I'm glad, now I don't have to stab you.

*Kicks knife under table.*

Awww! That means he wont end up playing Kang the Conqueror. Like I had imagined;

Still, good actor. Will be good in the role.

@kfabz-23: It's next year!

I can work with Chiwetel as Mordo...But hopefully there'll be a Dormammu in this or at least a cameo of him.

Funny enough, Chiwetel could've been a excellent Blue Marvel IMHO.

@zackattack93: Heimdal was not hurt by this whatsoever also characters can be more fluid you know Nick Fury pre Ultimate was not a Black man, that change only enhanced him.

@captain13: They also say he will be an amalgam of characters, so maybe there are elements there.

@ramior: To cast a great actor, who has serious villain chops cast as a villain who's ethnicity is not central enough for it to matter.

I was hoping he was going to be Voodoo.

Compelling villains are rare in Marvel movies, but this gives me hope that Mordo will be one of the few.

UNLEASH THE RACIST HOUNDS!!!!!

So is still a pointless ethnicity change.

@artisticneedham: MCU can't use Kang I'm afraid.

@ramior: there's not enough black characters in comic books an obscure character like Mordo getting changed is not a big deal.

@the_stegman: late next year.

Wanted Brother Voodoo

@ramior: No you missed the point, it was to have A GREAT ACTOR!

This is because the change didn't effect his history.

Do you even know the implications of Baron Mordo being black? You can say goodbye to his title of ''Baron'' and all his backstory......This isn't Mordo then.

i hope they dont waste this actor

Good choice, Id say. This news is just making me more and more excited for this movie.

Presume he's not going to be a Romanian nobleman then...at least not without it not making a single bit of historical sense.

@laylah: yes because clearly only white people have ever held the title of Baron

Exactly.

This is without counting that his family( Mostly his grandfather named Viscount Krowler) were all members of the Nazi Party.

@conniption_fit: Given how Mordo received his title, then yes.

It's going to change his history.

@laylah: No he could have modern influence as a member of the house of lords in Britain that wouldn't be an interesting new take on the character nooooo not at all. They've never changed things in the past either, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi_Verjee

@longbowhunter: Is it impossible for a black person to be this guy or are you just upset because he's not a white guy? Will is backstory be impossible to comprehend now that he'll be played by a black actor?

What an awesome casting choice! I really hope they give Mordo a huge role in this to take advantage of the talent. So far they're making really interesting decisions. On paper this looks amazing!

@ramior: Maybe the Marvel heads saw that this guy could bring the goods better than any other actor, maybe they just wanted a black actor instead of a white one, we'll never know.......at least he's a good actor!

@guardiandevil83: lmao! No sir a stabbing won't be necessary

Still pointless change and unlike said kfabz-23 is no't a obcusre chracter is the archenemy of strange.

Anyway since the case of Nick Fury jr I al against all ethnicity change.

@laylah: yeah and its nothing new for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Changing the Mandarin made for a far more interesting commentary on the state of American Culture post 911. That is way better than a racist Asian caricature. This is another such opportunity to do something interesting with an update of a character for the screen using a fantastic actor.

What makes Mordo is he is in service to a Demon to get power, the insignificant details of how he got his title to have political influence are minor. As minor as Nick Fury needing to have been a WW2 vet,so yes making him black did change his back story, it changed things so he could have the story in Winter Soldier about his Grandfather being an elevator operator, a job reserved for people of colour at the time. These things jettisoned minor details to create more relevant and up to date back stories.