Back in May it was announced that Tilda Swinton had nabbed the role of The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, seemingly revealing that Marvel were gender-swapping Stephen Strange’s mentor for his big screen debut. However, Swinton then muddied the water in July, suggesting she was unsure whether she’d be playing the character as male or female.
Well, Marvel chief Kevin Feige has now clarified the Ancient One’s gender int he movie, telling EW that: “[Tilda] is a chameleon in everything she does. She has this amazing [ability to] harness of this androgynous sense. So, we use the term ‘her’ and ‘she’ in the film but, other than that, it’s very androgynous. Because it doesn’t matter.”
“We are always looking for ways to change,” he continues. “I think if you look at some of the early incarnations of the Ancient One in the comics, they are what we would consider today to be quite, sort of, stereotypical. They don’t hold up to what would work today. Also, within the storyline of the comics, and our movie, ‘the Ancient One’ is a title that many people have had. We hit very early on on, What if the Ancient One was a woman? What if the title had been passed and the current Ancient One is a woman? Oh, that’s an interesting idea. [Clicks fingers.] Tilda Swinton! Whoah! And it just hit.”
Meanwhile, Chiwetel Ejiofor has also shared some details about his character Baron Mordo, and his relationship with The Ancient One and Doctor Strange:
“”In terms of his life with the Ancient One, it’s this long and intense relationship they have that’s just very deep and very connected. I think they both recognize in Strange this certain quality that they feel is going to be very useful in a situation they’re in — just by the nature of who he is, and the way that he operates, and the way his mind works, and the certain skill set and personality that he has. So, when they all meet, they realize that he’s somebody that can be plugged into this very surreal, interesting, sort of fascinating circumstance that they’re all in, and the dangers that they face. It becomes a process of assimilating him into their ways of life.”
There’s been a tonne of Doctor Strange news this week, including first look images, details on Mads Mikkelsen and Rachel McAdams’ characters, Benedict Cumberbatch’s casting, and the Sorcerer Supreme’s powers. Keep up to date with all our coverage here.
“Doctor Strange follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.”
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Doctor Strange is set for release on October 28th, 2016 in the UK and November 4th, 2016 in the US, with Scott Derrickson (Sinister) with a cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) as Stephen Strange, Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer) as The Ancient One, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as Baron Mordo and Rachel McAdams (True Detective) and Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) in as-yet-unconfirmed roles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=R7AFmg2LsJs
Originally published December 31, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
