Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the sorcerous nobleman Baron Mordo in Marvel's Doctor Strange. The 37-year-old will line up against Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor, while Tilda Swinton is reportedly in talks to play the Ancient One, a mystical Tibetan mentor whose powers including astral projection, teleportation and energy blasts.

Chiwetel EjioforChiwetel Ejiofor has joined the cast of Marvel's Doctor Strange

Mordo is traditionally a supervillain in the Doctor Strange comics though Deadline - who first reported the news - suggests his evil tendencies will be toned down in the new movie. The Ancient One is also male in print. 

More: Risk? What risk? Benedict Cumberbatch is ready for Doctor Strange

Due in cinemas in November 2016, Doctor Strange represents Cumberbatch's debut lead role in a major Hollywood production. He plays Dr Stephen Strange, an arrogant neurosurgeon who is transformed into a magically-powered superhero following a car accident.

As well as the movie itself, Cumberbatch's Strange is expected to play a key role in Marvel's new wave of superhero movies: it has nine planned between 2016's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and 2019's The Avengers: Infinity War: Part 2.

More: Marvel announces Black Panther, Doctor Strange as universe expands

Scott Derrickson, best known for the 2005 horror The Exorcism of Emily Rose, directs Doctor Strange from a screenplay by the Prometheus scribe Jon Spaihts.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was Oscar nominated for 12 Years a Slave, has numerous projects on the horizon including Ridley Scott's The Martian, a remake of critically acclaimed Argentinian movie Secret in Their Eyes and John Hillcoat's crime-drama Triple 9, with Aaron Paul, Gal Gadot and Kate Winslet. 

More: Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed as Marvel's Doctor Strange