Dr. Strange has finally found its leading man in British stage and screen actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch To Play Dr. Strange

Cumberbatch will play the eponymous role in Marvel’s highly-anticipated Dr. Strange film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While Cumberbatch has long been in the running for the part, scheduling conflicts initially led to Joaquin Phoenix landing the part. However, negotiations fell apart with Phoenix earlier this month, opening up the field once again to cast Dr. Strange. The theater scheduling conflicts that previously existed for Cumberbatch were no longer relevant, as filming for Dr. Strange has been pushed back.

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“As far as I’m aware, even if that was the case, it couldn’t work out because I’m doing a little play called Hamlet in London," Cumberbatch had said over the summer, responding to rumors. "So I don’t think I could even, if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”

The other actors in the running for the part were reportedly Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, Tom Hardy, Justin Theroux, Ethan Hawke and Keanu Reeves.

Director Scott Derrickson will be helming Dr. Strange, which will be based on Marvel Comics' neurosurgeon/Sorcerer Supreme character.

Dr. Strange is slated for release July 8, 2016.

Before Dr. Strange comes out, Cumberbatch will be seen playing Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, which the actor has been promoting. The film, which comes out next month, features the actor playing the English mathematician and logician, who cracked the Enigma code during World War II. Before the end of 2014, Cumberbatch will be reprising his role as Smaug/Necromancer in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and can be heard in animated flick Penguins of Madagascar.