While doing press for his upcoming supernatural thriller Deliver Us from Evil, arriving in theaters July 2, director Scott Derrickson spoke for the first time about landing the Doctor Strange directing job in a new interview.

While he wouldn't address the casting process, ("Can't talk about that, but I understand that you have to ask!") or whether or not it will be more horror-centric than previous Marvel movies ("We'll see!"), the filmmaker did discuss how fans reacted to him coming on board, while revealing that Doctor Strange is the Marvel movie audiences are finally ready for.

"I think the nicest surprise for me, the most unexpected surprise, is the positive reaction. Both to me getting the film - I guess I expected the detractors, and they just haven't been there, it's all been quite positive. More than that, it's just the general enthusiasm for Doctor Strange. I think people who know the comic world and the Marvel universe, they all feel the same way I do, which is, 'This is the Marvel movie we're all ready to see now.' This movie needs to exist. The outpouring of excitement that people have shown is the thing I've been most pleasantly surprised."

Best known for horror projects such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Sinister, along with the sci-fi remake The Day the Earth Stood Still, Scott Derrickson may not be the most obvious choice to direct Doctor Strange, but Marvel has certainly surprised fans in the past with their choice of directors, such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier's Joe Russo and Anthony Russo and Thor: The Dark World's Alan Taylor. The filmmaker revealed that "it makes sense" that Doctor Strange is his favorite comic book character.

"I think when you consider the work that I've done it makes sense that he'd be my favorite comic book character, at least in the Marvel universe. Probably the only comic character in that mainstream world that I'm suited to. I feel such an affinity for the character and the story and the ambition of those comics, especially the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko "Strange Tales" - I think those are my favorite of all of them. The entire history of the comics is extraordinary."

When asked how much he pursued the Doctor Strange directorial gig, Scott Derrickson said he did everything in his power to land the job.

"I wanted it really bad. More than any other project that I've gone after, I felt compelled to do everything in my power to get on that project. Genuinely felt like I was the right guy to do it."

Despite taking on the biggest job of his career, Scott Derrickson revealed his life hasn't changed too much, except for his Twitter followers.

"The only thing that's changed is my number of Twitter followers. [Laughs] Otherwise everything is pretty much the same."

Are you excited to see what Scott Derrickson can do with Doctor Strange? Chime in with your thoughts below.