Marvel developed a Doctor Strange film in the 80s with writers like Lawrence Block, Bob Gale, and Larry Cohen all taking a stab at it. Stan rewrote a few drafts himself. I had to read every single draft for arbitration. Unsurprisingly, Stan's was my favorite. 
When Marvel hit financial troubles in the late 80s they sold off option rights for their characters, including Strange. Charles Band bought the STRANGE option, developed the film, then failed to make it in time, losing the rights. So he cut out all the specifics & retitled it.
Because a Strange movie was never made and Disney bought Marvel, and the rights reverted to Marvel, that meant the development process was officially 33 years long, and everyone had to be included in a second arbitration. (No one realized the problem the first time around.)
Who was the first writer to turn down credit and claim that the script was definitely ours?
Stan.
Excelsior, indeed.
Stan.
Excelsior, indeed.
A page of Stan's from one of the 1986 drafts of DOCTOR STRANGE.
