Jessica Chastain, known for her roles in Interstellar and The Martian, turned down the chance to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange. The role of Christine Palmer eventually went to Rachel McAdams. According to screenwriter C. Robert Cargill, Chastain declined the offer as she wanted to be a superhero and wear a cape, not a human love interest.
Chastain did get her wish to play a superhero when she starred in Dark Phoenix as the shapeshifting alien Vuk. However, the movie performed poorly at the box office, grossing only $252 million on a $200 million budget. In contrast, Doctor Strange was a commercial success, grossing $677 million worldwide.
Rachel McAdams’ Role In Doctor Strange
Director Scott Derrickson revealed that he fought hard to get Rachel McAdams for the role of Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange. He believed that McAdams was the only actress who could convincingly react to the fantastical events in the movie. McAdams eventually reprised her role in Doctor Strange 2, playing a multiversal variant of herself. It is unknown whether she will appear in Doctor Strange 3.