Now that we know Doctor Strange will be released November 2016, fans are chomping at the bit for any plot details they can find. We reported in August that, unlike most new Marvel adventures, Doctor Strange will not be an origin story, showing fans a Dr. Stephen Strange that is already established as a superhero. Earlier this week, director Scott Derrickson posted a unique piece of comic book art on his Twitter page, which hints at where the story is heading.

The image in question comes from the graphic novel Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa by J.M. DeMatteis and Dan Green, which was first published in 1986. If this is the material from which Scott Derrickson and writer Jon Spaihts are adapting the movie from, it would essentially confirm the August report, since this story takes place 21 years after Dr. Stephen Strange was taught the magical arts. The plot centers on a mystical artifact that brings Strange back home to study it, where he begins communicating with the Lords of Shamballa. The story also follows an opportunity that will allow all of humanity to reach a golden age.

Fans may recall that, in this spring's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the character Stephen Strange was already identified as having incredible powers, so it would make sense to set up Doctor Strange as a hero whose gifts were established within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Using this Shamballa storyline will also provide plenty of opportunities for flashbacks, to give us more insight into Stephen Strange.

We don't know for sure if Scott Derrickson meant to use this image as a subtle hint about the Doctor Strange screenplay, but it certainly make sense, given what we know so far.

In related news, many fans were hoping that Benedict Cumberbatch would be confirmed as Doctor Strange during Marvel's big press event last week, which came just one day after a report revealed he is in final negotiations to star as the Sorcerer Supreme. Granted, that confirmation may come any day now, but until then, the actor himself played coy about Doctor Strange in an interview from a few weeks ago that has just posted on IGN. Take a look at his brief quote below, and check out the video to see his reaction.

"I don't know, maybe. No, I know a little bit about Doctor Strange, yeah, maybe."