Chiwetel Ejiofor could be eyeing his first role in a superhero film – as Marvel are said to have approached him for Doctor Strange.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Chiwetel is being courted to join Benedict Cumberbatch, who is set to play the surgeon-turned-sorcerer Stephen Strange, aka Doctor Strange.

Twelve Years A Slave star Chiwetel is rumoured to be wanted for a villainous role, although it seems unlikely that he will play key baddie Baron Mordo, who is a sorcerer’s apprentice whose next-in-line status is stolen by Strange.

Chiwetel Ejiofor
(Jordan Strauss/Invision)

Doctor Strange is in the early stages of casting and will be directed by Scott Derrickson, with a planned release date of November 2016.

Chiwetel had been rumoured to be taking on the role of a villain for new Bond film Spectre, although talks never reached a deal stage, and has also played the bad guy in Serenity and Children Of Men.

He can next be seen in sci-fi survival movie Z For Zachariah and is currently shooting space thriller The Martian for Ridley Scott.