Tilda Swinton to Play The Ancient One in Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE
Marvel Studios is in negotiations with actress Tilda Swinton (The Beach, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) to take on the role of The Ancient One in director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange.
Swinton is no stranger to the comic book genre as she has previously starred in the big screen adaptations of Snowpiercer and 2005’s Constantine. She is a very interesting choice for The Ancient One as the character is traditionally portrayed as an older male in the comics. The funny thing is, I can easily imagine Swinton in the role. She's just got that look of an experienced sorcerer, and on top of that she's a solid actress.
I know this casting probably isn't going to sit well with some of the fans, but you've got to remember that this is Marvel, and they have been shaking things up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It shouldn't come as a surprise that they would do something like this.
If the negotiations go well, she will join Benedict Cumberbatch, who is taking on the role of the Sorcerer Supreme a.k.a. Stephen Strange, a cocky surgeon that loses the use of his hands in a car accident. While attempting to heal himself he discovers magic, and The Ancient One aids him in his efforts to expand on his new-found powers and leads his ascendance to becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.
Marvel was originally looking to cast a male in the role. Some of the rumored actors they were looking at included Morgan Freeman, Bill Nighy, and Ken Watanabe. They obviously ended up restructuring the character.
It was also previously rumored that 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor was in talks to play the film’s villain, but that has yet to be confirmed by the studio. Doctor Strange is set to be released on November 4th, 2016.
Via: THR