While The Ancient One is described as an Asian in the comic books, the 55-year-old actress claims that her mystical character in the Benedict Cumberbatch-led movie is not of Tibetan descent.
- Oct 5, 2016
AceShowbiz - Tilda Swinton has addressed "whitewashing" backlash over her "Doctor Strange" casting as The Ancient One. While the said character is described as an Asian in the comic book series, the 55-year-old actress claims that her mystical character in the Benedict Cumberbatch-led movie is not of Tibetan descent.
"There is little for me to add except to say that anyone speaking up for a greater accuracy in the representation of the diversity of the world we live in has me right beside them," Swinton told Out magazine. "As someone who has worked from the beginning as an artist within a queer aesthetic, the urgency of that voice is always going to be welcome."
"At the same time, the film Marvel has made - in which they created a part for which I was not bad casting, in actual fact - is a departure from the source material in more ways than one," she continued. "Ironically, their casting is positively diverse in this case: The Ancient One in this film was never written as the bearded old Tibetan man portrayed in the comics."
The British actress also pointed out that the Ancient One was not the only character being portrayed differently from the comic books. "Baron Mordo, a Caucasian Transylvanian in the graphic novels, is here played by Chiwetel Ejiofor," she explained. "Benedict Wong plays a newly expanded and significant role as Wong, who in the comics is a mini-minor character."
Swinton went on to reassure that the changes of the character in the big-screen version would make more sense once the movie was released. "There may be some people who do not like these changes," she said. "But I am hopeful that when they see the film itself they may understand why these particular balances were struck."
"Meanwhile, whether they do or not, and this film aside, all strength to the lobby for a greater variety in cinema and in life," she added. "We are also still looking forward to our first gay Marvel superhero, naturally. Let's hope that's only a matter of time."
"Doctor Strange" is coming to U.S. theaters on November 4. Directed by Scott Derrickson from a script by Jon Spaihts, the fantasy flick also stars Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Scott Adkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Amy Landecker.
