Two weeks ago, Marvel released the first trailer forDoctor Strange, which caused quite the divisive reaction amongst fans. While many enjoyed the footage, others took Marvel to task for castingTilda Swintonas theAncient One, a character typically portrayed by an Asian male in the comics. Since then,Tilda Swintonand one of the movie’s writers,C. Robert Cargill, have spoken out about the controversy. And today, we have an official statement from Marvel, which sheds new light on the story and the use of this particular character.
Tilda Swinton’s casting wasn’t met with too much controversy last year, with many praising Marvel for gender-swapping the role traditionally portrayed by a male. However, the trailer debuted just a few days before the first photo ofScarlett Johanssonwas revealed from Paramount’sGhost in the Shell, where the actress is portraying a role from a Japanese Manga, though the publishers claim the character is not supposed to be Japanese. Even so, theDoctor Strangetrailer andGhost in the Shellphoto’s release just days apart created a newwhitewashingcontroversy, which Marvel has now addressed on their end in a statement they released toMashable.
“Marvel has a very strongrecord of diversityin its casting of films and regularly departs from stereotypes and source material to bring its MCU to life. The Ancient One is a title that is not exclusively held by any one character, but rather a moniker passed down through time, and in this particular film the embodiment is Celtic. We are very proud to have the enormously talentedTilda Swintonportray this unique and complex character alongside our richly diverse cast.”
Over the weekend, writerC. Robert Cargillcompared the casting conundrum to the unwinnableStar Trektest Kobyashi Maru. The writer teased that every possible outcome would be dismissed by certain fans, while adding that the casting decision was made to avoid upsetting the all-important Chinese market. We’ll have to wait and see if this controversy affect the movie’s box office performance.
Doctor Strangetells the story of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an acclaimed neurosurgeon who uncovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions after a near-fatal car accident. The film will show audiences corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe never before explored, thanks to directorScott Derrickson, based on the comic book character created byStan LeeandSteve Ditko.Doctor Strangeis set for release on November 4, going up against Warner Bros.‘Bastardsand 20th Century Fox’sTrolls.
