Doctor Strange has been gestating for quite some time now. The film didn’t even get to have a Comic-Con panel shortly after it was announced that Scott Derrickson would be directing the film from a script most recently written by Jon Spaihts.

Since then, we’ve been getting a few casting rumors as to who would be playing the titular character. Joaquin Phoenix‘s name has been recently attached to the role. Edgar Ramirez and Benedict Cumberbatch have also been on the rumored shortlist. Now, a new report states that filming is scheduled to begin mid-2015 for a Summer 2016 release.

Screendaily says that Doctor Strange is scheduled for a July 8, 2016 release. It just so happens that this is one of the Marvel Mystery Movie dates that Marvel had already locked down in the past.

Marvel has always had a fascinating casting process. How they managed to nab Robert Redford for the role of Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is beyond me. But their casting process has always remained secretive, and just like a film’s synopsis, we won’t know anything about the it until Marvel wants to let us know.

Sure there are rumors and speculation, and that’s fun to read. But Marvel hasn’t disappointed us yet, so the person they are said to be talking to for the title role in Doctor Strange may impress you. Collider says that Marvel is now in final talks with Joaquin Phoenix to play Doctor Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch and Justin Theroux were among names on the short list for the role as well, but it looks like Marvel may be settling on Phoenix. Hit the jump to learn more.

There will be a long lull of Marvel Studios’ films between Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron. In between that lull we could expect to see trailers and clips for the latter film. So while some of us are waiting for the highly anticipated Avengers sequel to hit theaters next May, others are thinking beyond that date.

In addition to Age of Ultron, we will also see Ant-Man opening in July of next year, which will be followed up by Captain America 3 on May 6, 2016; followed by an untitled film; followed by another untitled film on May 5, 2017; then the release of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on July 17, 2017, and another mystery release in November 2017.

Marvel has carefully coordinated their plan of attack by releasing up to two to three films a year. But it is 2018 we should all be watching out for. 2012 marked the release of The Avengers, and it’ll be three years since its release when Age of Ultron hits theaters next year. So does that mean we will have to wait another three years before Avengers 3 hits after Age of Ultron? Hit the jump to find out.

Marvel Studios has been making significant progress with Doctor Strange in recent weeks, signing up Scott Derrickson (Sinister) to direct and Jon Spaihts (Prometheus) to write the script.

The title role of the Sorcerer Supreme has been linked at various times to Johnny Depp, Jared Leto, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tom Hardy, but the studio has yet to lock down an appropriate actor to lead this project that might be a more difficult sell with audiences than even Guardians of the Galaxy. One person who can willingly admit to talking about a potential role in Doctor Strange is Édgar Ramírez, the Venezuelan actor who recently stepped into the role originally cast with Gerard Butler in the upcoming Point Break remake.

With the Ant-Man controversy well behind us, Dr. Strange having found a new director, and Guardians of the Galaxy hitting theaters in six weeks, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is making the rounds promoting the various titles. Feige was over at CineEurope, and talked to TotalFilm about the state of Ant-Man, what we can expect to see in Dr. Strange, and where the Guardians could be headed on their next adventure.

Hit the jump for more.