While the chatter hasn’t reached the same volume as the controversies surrounding some other movies this year, when Tilda Swinton was selected to play The Ancient One in Marvel‘s “Doctor Strange,” it raised eyebrows. Some were concerned about whitewashing with the Tibetan character from the comics changed to having Celtic origins in the movie, while other (smaller-minded people) wondered about the part being rejiggered for a woman. Swinton has previously defended her casting, saying she certainly wasn’t asked to play an Asian man, but in a new interview with Out she elaborates further on her role, while praising Marvel’s efforts to diversify the actors they hire for their films.
“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. 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,” the actress explained.
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“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. Baron Mordo, a Caucasian Transylvanian in the graphic novels, is here played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Benedict Wong plays a newly expanded and significant role as Wong, who in the comics is a mini-minor character,” Swinton continued.“I believe in Marvel’s wholehearted commitment to creating a diverse and vibrant universe, avoiding stereotype and cliché wherever possible in a determination to keep things fresh and lively.”
A vigorous and compelling defence from Swinton, and certainly with Marvel gearing up “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel” movies, the future does seem like it will open things up to tell superhero stories from a variety of perspectives.
“Doctor Strange” opens on November 4th. [via Just Jared]
