If Joaquin Phoenix doesn't end up playing Doctor Strange then this could be one of the big reasons why. And it's reportedly not just about money or the multi-film contracts Marvel Studios demands their actors sign.

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According to Badass Digest , Marvel Studios had hoped to sign Phoenix in time to announce him during their panel at July's Comic-Con, but they couldn't seal the deal. And they still can't.Phoenix is said to have met with Marvel this week ( Collider reported a few days ago that the Oscar nominee was still very much in talks for Doctor Strange), but that there's a roadblock preventing the studio from signing him to play their Sorcerer Supreme.The issues stalling the deal, the site claims, "go beyond the basic fact that Phoenix is balking at the heavy multi-picture contract: Joaquin Phoenix literally doesn't know if he can work on this kind of movie. He's a great actor, and he can play the role. But the Marvel Studios blockbuster machine is full of pre-viz and fight-viz and green screen and massive reshoots. It's not a world that's as comfortable for him, and he's just not certain he can do it. ... If Marvel can get past any issues Phoenix has with the larger contract they still have to get over the doubt this terrific actor has about working in this larger environment."Doctor Strange is slated to go before cameras in early 2015 under the direction of Scott Derrickson from a script by Joe Spaihts.