A number of sources this evening are reporting that talented fight performer Scott Adkins has signed on to play an as-yet unspecified role in the upcoming ‘Doctor Strange’ movie. The Birmingham-born actor has been linked to a number of superhero roles in the past, having screen tested for Batman at the same as fellow Brit actor Christian Bale, and with roles in the Bourne Series, Zero Dark Thirty and Expendables 2 under his belt, he’s no stranger to a high profile project

Adkins is a renowned martial-artist, and I’d direct you to the Universal Soldier sequel ‘Day of Reckoning’, in a scene where he utterly dismantles UFC legend Andre Arlovski in a sports shop as a taster of his talents. That in mind, what role does that suggests that Adkins might be performing in the upcoming Marvel film?

5. Manufactured Mercenary/ Bad Guy

Adkins has participated in his fair share of generic ‘straight to DVD’ work, where he plays a variety of military/former military characters. Perhaps the most obvious and predictable role the studio could create for him would be that of the stereotypical foreign antagonist, posing some form of threat to Tilda Swinton’s Ancient One and his/her flock.

Some form of paid mercenary or company man, who is being asked to uncover and secure the secrets of the Himalayan retreat where Stephen Strange has sought refuge. If you’re asking Adkins to come on board, then you’re asking for some hardcore fight scenes. Given the supernatural overtones of Benedict Cumberbatch’s character, and the recognition that Baron Mordo will be the main antagonist, it’s entirely conceivable that some form of external threat might be employed, that could pressure Strange into an aggressive action to defend his master and adopted homeland.

4. Wong

Setting ethnicity aside for one moment, which we clearly already have with be casting of Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo, it’s entirely conceivable that Adkins could have signed up to play some variation of Dr Strange’s loyal manservant, Wong.

Born into servitude to defend the Sorcerer Supreme, the character of Wong is certainly capable of using some pretty spectacular physical force to defend Stephen Strange from the forces of evil, so it’s entirely possible that Adkins may well be playing a Marvel good guy, and not a simplified baddy.

3. Mordo Lieutenant

With Baron Mordo clearly identified as the big bad in this movie, perhaps the most naturally defined fit for Adkins would be as some form of agent of Mordo.

Maybe a fellow student seduced by his manipulative peer’s suggestions to rebel against their Master. Or perhaps something with a bit more meat to it, like the body-stealing Mister Jip, or the corrupted Kaluu, who had at one time been a student alongside the Ancient One.

Reaching slightly further afield, vampires seem to play a persistent role in opposing Dr Strange, so could this be some way for Marvel to start nudging their Cinematic Universe back towards the Blade narrative?

2. Dormammu Lieutenant

Wherever you have Dr. Strange, you have his arch supernatural nemesis, Dormammu. And whilst there may not have been any obvious directions as of yet by the studio that this demonic opponent will be featuring in the movie, it’s a strong possibility.

Looking at how Dormammu works, it’s usually thought the manipulation of others, so perhaps the role of a corrupted mercenary/soldier might play into this or something more fantastic with a character such as ‘Nightmare’, combining Adkins’s high-kicking skills with some horrifyingly haunting CGI.

1. Iron Fist

Now this is a reach, though perhaps not as big a one as you might think. Marvel’s very public struggle to try and incorporate the character of Danny Rand into their Netflix project is well documented.

Iron Fist is well known to be a master of Wushu, a fighting style that Adkins would quite easily be able to carry out on screen.

Could it be that the TV and Film wings of Marvel entertainment have had words with one another, and decided that the best way to introduce this big player would be in the movie environment? It’s not entirely in the world of fantasy. But then neither is the introduction of Moon Knight at this point in proceedings. Here’s hoping…

Who do you think the actor is playing? Sound off in the comment section below!