The holidays arrived a bit early for those Marvel-superhero fans out there as the comic powerhouse dropped three major casting announcements this week regarding two movies and one television show that will be heading our way in the very near future.

First up...

Doctor Strange

As previously rumored, Marvel has officially announced that Benedict Cumberbatch is next to join the ever-evolving list of Marvel Studios heroes. The Hobbit and Star Trek Into Darkness actor will join the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and their crew as Doctor Strange, with his first solo movie arriving in theaters on July 8, 2016, to be directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister). Knowing Marvel, that won't be the first and last time we see Cumberbatch -- expect him to also appear in any number of other Marvel movies, including the two-part Avengers film that arrives in 2018 and 2019.

As for Doctor Strange, the movie will "follow the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions," according to Marvel's official statement.

 

Deadpool

Last time we saw the character Deadpool on-screen, he was played by Ryan Reynolds in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It was a different, more serious and gritty take on the classic comic character (created by Rob Liefeld) who's known to be a bit dirty and sarcastic. Following a fan campaign and recently released test footage from a planned movie, 20th Century Fox has decided to move forward with a new Deadpool movie... and it will star Ryan Reynolds! Look for it to arrive at some point in 2016. Meanwhile, Reynolds teased fans with this image.

 

 

 

 

Jessica Jones

Oh, but Marvel isn't just saving all its best characters for the big screen -- they're on the small one, too. As part of a deal to create four interconnected TV shows for Netflix, Marvel looks to have zeroed in on Krysten Ritter for the role of Jessica Jones in its second show, following next year's Daredevil. The 13-episode series, written by Twilight's Melissa Rosenberg, will follow Ritter as a superhero whose post-traumatic stress disorder forces her to hang up her cape and open a detective agency where she assists other heroes.

 

What Marvel movie (or TV show) are you most excited to see?