The 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' is not just a stand-alone movie. It serves as the precursor to Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A rumor has sprung that 'Mad Men' actor Jon Hamm will be a part of that phase. Is he the new Iron Man?

Hamm has the aura of Tony Stark in the comics, but Robert Downey, Jr. has taken it to an entirely new level and made the character his own. Then again, James Bond fanatics said the same about Sean Connery yet the Bond series (which Marvel boss Kevin Feige wants to emulate) is about to make its 24^th movie in the span of 50 years.

However, the rumor site This Is Infamous has the Hamm casting in an entirely new direction. From their 'exclusive' report: ".. our sources indicate to us that the guy Marvel has set up to play Doctor Stephen Strange is none other than JON HAMM.

That's right... the man we've come to know as MAD MEN's Don Draper has been cast as the Sorcerer Supreme and Master of the Mystic Arts."

The report says "has been cast" implying that it's a done deal.

The rumor mill has had quite a string of success (although not specific to This is Infamous) despite the Hollywood denials. Some of the recent successful scoops include the casting of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Paul Rudd as Ant-Man. These actors where buzzed around months before they were officially announced. In contrast, the Michael Douglas casting was a complete surprise, even the Hank Pym angle was unexpected.

Despite the certainty of their declaration, reports like these should be taken with a grain of salt until Marvel or Hamm's representatives confirm it.

Meanwhile, the character of Doctor Strange never really joined the Avengers in the comics, although they have worked together on several occasions. The presence of the Scarlet Witch in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is a clue to the direction Marvel is taking: More cosmic, more mysticism, less politics and tech (which will probably be settled in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and AAoU) while the Guardians of the Galaxy movie will introduce the cosmic side.

Comicbook.com mentions that Jon Hamm as Doctor Strange (assuming the rumors are confirmed) "is seen as a lynchpin property that can link a number of disparate films, and Marvel is keen to make sure it's done right-which makes sense, given the fact that they will lose Robert Downey, Jr.'s iconic representation of Iron Man after Avengers 3 and have no new Iron Man solo films planned for the star." So he will replace Iron Man, but not exactly as Iron Man. Is that Strange? Pardon the pun.