Mads Mikkelsen of Hannibal has been in talks to portray an antagonist in Marvel's Doctor Strange against the protagonist who will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch, according to Variety.

A source says while an offer has not been finalized, negotiations will wrap up soon.

Apparently Marvel has shown interest in Mikklesen for a while now and had approached him to play the villain Malekith in Thor: The Dark World.

Mikkelsen was confirmed to play NBC's suave cannibal in Hannibal, however, and that put paid to that piece of casting, which eventually went to Christopher Eccleston.

If negotiations are successful, this will be Mikkelsen's second starring role after Hannibal was cancelled after only 3 seasons.

He has already been confirmed to feature in Star Wars: Rogue One, which will be released on 16^th December 2016.

Created by Marvel Comics artist Steve Ditko in 1963, Stephen Vincent Strange is a former neurosurgeon whose career was destroyed.

He becomes an apprentice of the Ancient One who teaches him magic and he is eventually elected the next Sorcerer Supreme and primary protector of Earth against threats both mystical and magical.

Already confirmed to star alongside Cumberbatch are Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, Strange's mentor, and Chiwetel Ejiofor who will play Baron Mordo, a fellow magic student under the Ancient One.

Baron Mordo eventually becomes Doctor Strange's nemesis.

Scott Derrickson will direct the fantasy film with the script written by Jon Spaihts. Set to produce is Marvel's Kevin Feige.

Production will start later this year, and release is set for 4^th November 2016.