Deadline.com is reporting that Benedict Cumberbatch is in negotiations to play Marvel's Doctor Strange. He'll be the latest actor to play a superhero on the big screen -- and no wonder, given superheroes' popularity. Here are a few of our favorites. 
The first "Avengers" movie, released in 2012, is the third highest-grossing movie of all time -- and a new one, "Age of Ultron," is due out next summer. The trailer already has people buzzing. 
Robert Downey Jr. brought Tony Stark's Iron Man to life in 2008. There have been two sequels already, and Iron Man was also a major star in "The Avengers." 
Mark Ruffalo got to wear the Hulk's stretchy purple pants in "The Avengers," and he will be in the sequel as well. Eric Bana and Edward Norton played the character in two previous movies: "Hulk" (2003) and "The Incredible Hulk" (2008). 
Following in Tobey Maguire's footsteps -- err, spider webs -- Andrew Garfield starred in 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man." He also played the part in a sequel earlier this year. 
Halle Berry's Storm and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine became fan favorites when "X-Men" hit theaters in 2000. The pair have also appeared in the series' many sequels, including "X-Men: Days of Future Past" earlier this year. (Wolverine has even had two movies of his own.) 
The late Christopher Reeve, pictured, wore the red cape in 1978's "Superman" and its three sequels. Brandon Routh took over in 2006's "Superman Returns," and Henry Cavill starred in 2013's "Man of Steel." 
Chris Evans, who first donned red, white and blue for 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger," continued his fight against evil in "The Avengers." He reprised his role this year in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and he'll be in the second Avengers. 
Following Michael Keaton in 1989 (and 1992), Val Kilmer in 1995 and George Clooney in 1997, Christian Bale drove the Batmobile for all three of the Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan. 
Chris Hemsworth played Thor in the 2011 film of the same name. There was also a sequel in 2013, and Thor, of course, is one of the Avengers. 
Ron Perlman went red for Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy" in 2004 and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" in 2008. 
"Captain America" wasn't Chris Evans' first time battling evil in a form-fitting blue suit. Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis were the "Fantastic Four" in 2005. They teamed up again in a 2007 sequel. 
Ryan Reynolds became the Green Lantern in 2011. 
Mikey Kelley, James Arnold Taylor, Nolan North and Mitchell Whitfield voiced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2007's "TMNT." Everyone's favorite pizza-eating reptiles returned this year in a live-action reboot. 
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- Report: Benedict Cumberbatch to play Marvel magician Doctor Strange
- Film is set for release in 2016
- Doctor Strange is popular character who debuted in 1963
(CNN) -- Marvel may have found the person to play "the mightiest magician in the cosmos."
According to a report on Deadline.com, the studio is pursuing Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange, the former neurosurgeon who rises to become the Sorcerer Supreme and protect the planet from magical threats.
The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Cumberbatch is in negotiations to play the role.
The "Doctor Strange" film is scheduled to be released in summer 2016. Scott Derrickson is set to direct, THR reports.
The Doctor Strange role has been in play for some time. Among the performers linked to the role have been Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leto, Keanu Reeves and Tom Hardy.
The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and made his first appearance in Strange Tales #110 in 1963.
Cumberbatch is currently on a hot streak. In addition to his well-received "Sherlock" series, for which he won an Emmy this year, he's earned a great deal of Oscar buzz for his performance as cyberpioneer Alan Turing in "The Imitation Game."
