Benedict Cumberbatch Marvel's latest superhero

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Photo / AP

After months of speculation, Marvel has reportedly found its Doctor Strange.

Benedict Cumberbatch is in final talks to play the star role in the studio's latest superhero film, according to Deadline and other publications.

Some of Hollywood's biggest names have been linked to the Scott Derrickson-directed flick in recent months, including Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leto, Tom Hardy and Ryan Gosling.

Phoenix had reportedly reached the negotiation stage to play the powerful neurosurgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme, until talks fell through earlier this month.

Cumberbatch, who The Hollywood Reporter says had been an early contender for the role, then came back in the running.

If true, the 38-year-old Sherlock and Star Trek Into Darkness star will play the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats in the upcoming movie, slated for release in 2016.

The character of Doctor Strange was first hatched by Marvel Comics veterans Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1963.

In the comic books, Strange teams up with Thor, the Avengers, Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four to fight enemies.

Marvel has already teased him in several films, including Thor and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, fuelling speculation he'll appear in future Avengers sequels.

Cumberbatch's geek-friendly casting has set Twitter alight, with some users cracking jokes and others expressing their excitement.

Veteran comic book writer J.M. DeMatteis described it as a perfect casting.

"This may be the best comics-to-screen casting since Robert Downey as Iron Man," he posted.

Meanwhile, some wondered whether another franchise was the right move for the acclaimed actor.

"Just remember, for each Marvel movie Benedict Cumberbatch is in, we will lose 3 or 4 quality Benedict Cumberbatch performances," one wrote.

Cumberbatch's schedule, which includes the BBC's Sherlock Holmes series and theatre productions, will reportedly dictate the success of the deal.

He will next be seen in The Imitation Game and voices characters in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Penguins of Madagascar and Warner Bros' The Jungle Book.

- AAP