No, seriously. First Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor was rumored for the part, then Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman‘s name popped up. (There are several trends here, if you didn’t notice.) Marvel’s all about bolstering its growing roster of performers with trophy-worthy talent. So in a sense, the latest casting rumor regarding the role of the Ancient One in Doctor Strange isn’t surprising — except for when it’s surprising.
If the Hollywood Reporter‘s sources are to be believed, Tilda Swinton is up for the role:
The actress is in negotiations to join Benedict Cumberbatch in Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange, being directed by Scott Derrickson.
Sure, names like Ejiofor’s and Freeman’s suggested Marvel was headed towards an ethnic route with the character, who’s usually portrayed as a Tibetan mystic in the comics. Not the same ethnicity, per se, but ethnic nonetheless.
But according to the report, “the studio rethought the role and has now made it female.” Currently Swinton and Marvel are only talking, but “if a deal makes, [she’ll] play the Ancient One.”
It’s no Black Widow movie, but it looks like Marvel’s willing to make some major changes to up the ante of its female characters — traditional and otherwise. Meanwhile, the comments section below EXPLODED with rage…
(Via the Hollywood Reporter)
