With production set to begin soon on Marvel's Doctor Strange, the cast is starting to come together. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Michael Stuhlbarg is in talks to join the cast in an unspecified role, which another report from Variety claims is Nicodemus West, a scientific rival of Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Both reports reveal that principal photography will begin this December in London.

In the Marvel Comics, Dr. Nicodemus West was the surgeon who operated on neurosurgeon Stephen Strange's hands after a horrific car accident. While the doctor was able to save Strange's hands, he was left with significant nerve damage and was unable to perform surgery again. Burdened with guilt over this ordeal, West followed Strange to Kamar-Taj, but he arrived just days after Strange had completed his mystical training with the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Unsure about Strange's ability to become the Sorcerer Supreme, The Ancient One gave West limited training in the mystical arts.

It's unclear how much of this story from the comics will unfold in the Doctor Strange adaptation. Producer Kevin Feige recently confirmed that it will be an origin movie, contrary to some earlier rumors that the studio was ditching the doctor's origins. Still, no story details have been confirmed yet. But with principal photography beginning next month, hopefully the studio will release the first official synopsis soon.

If his deal is finalized, Michael Stuhlbarg will join a cast that also includes Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo and Rachel McAdams as the unspecified female lead. Mads Mikkelsen has also been in talks for an unspecified villain role, but it isn't known if his deal is finalized, or who he will be portraying. It isn't known how many character have yet to be cast before production gets under way.

Scott Derrickson (Deliver Us from Evil) is directing from a screenplay byJon Spaihts (Prometheus), based on the comic book character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The Marvel adventure has been set for release on November 4, 2016, arriving just six months after the studio's first Phase Three adventure, Captain America: Civil War. Michael Stuhlbarg can currently be seen in theaters as Apple's Andy Hertzfield in Steve Jobs, and he will next be seen portraying legendary actor Edward G. Robinson in the biopic Trumbo, in theaters November 6. The actor is best known for his roles in the Coen Brothers' 2009 film A Serious Man, and for portraying Arnold Rothstein on HBO's critically-acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire.