The Marvel train is still rolling with Dr. Strange in the hopes of taking a C-level comic book and turning it into another hit. The tees aren’t crossed yet on any real deal, but the possibility that the magical man might end up at Pixar is still out there. The most recent sign – an interview with comic artist Brendan McCarthy saying, “I was over in Hollywood earlier this year mooching about, and I had a meeting at Disney and the conversation drifted around to Pixar animating a Dr. Strange movie.” It’s nothing set in stone, but putting the Pixar name behind the hero would definitely give him a popularity boost. On the other hand, taken on something out of their wheelhouse might hobble Pixar in a way. A Marvel fantasy hero doesn’t exactly fit into their body of work. They’ve seen an old man hit a construction worker and a batch of toys almost come to a violent death, but are they ready to take on a neurosurgeon learning black magic in the Himalayas? And does the world really want him animated? [Cinema Blend]

Patrick Dempsey is cinematic poison. Sure, the guy has had a good run as an object of television audiences’ affections on Grey’s Anatomy, but when he moves over to the big screen, it’s usually disastrous. Save for Enchanted (the success of which had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Amy Adams), I haven’t seen Dempsey in a quality film in the last decade. So why anyone would ever mention him in the same breath as the inevitable Dr. Strange film is beyond me. Unless of course, that person is Patrick Dempsey.

Earlier today we remarked on Marvel Studios’ intent to make short films for some of their lesser known characters, giving them a Pixar-like release model in which their big features — Captain America, Thor, Iron Man 3 — would be preceded by a look at something that might not be known to mainstream audiences. For my money, this included Dr. Strange. It looks like that might not be the case after all.

Marvel wants to deliver third tier heroes to the big screen. We’re wondering if that’s a good thing.

Does anyone actually want to see a Dr. Strange movie? Kevin Feige apparently does. And he’s the President of Production at Marvel Studios, so that might actually mean something.