**Major spoilers ahead, seriously** “Doctor Strange” rolls into cinemas this weekend packing big special effects that cover for an otherwise middle-of-the-road movie (read our review). But where it succeeds the most is in packing a bigger-than-expected emotional wallop, with one character involved in what might be the most affecting Marvel movie moment yet.
**Once again, big spoilers ahead**
During the film, the once-arrogant Doctor Strange becomes a devoted disciple to Tilda Swinton‘s The Ancient One, who, as her name implies, has lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. However, during a particularly trippy battle with Mads Mikkelsen‘s Kaecilius, she’s gravely injured, and later dies on the operating table (in a sense, the all-powerful character ultimately decides she’s lived long enough and passes along to the next realm). Given that no one really passes away in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is she really dead?
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“It certainly should not be taken as a trick,” screenwriter Jon Spaihts told AV Club. “It is very solemn and very real. However, this is a mystical universe and the character is centuries old, and so people are certainly welcome to speculate irresponsibly.”
And surely, fans are going to have their own theories about how The Ancient One could still appear for future installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, when we spoke to Swinton last month, her pitch for another movie involving her character was one that took place before “Doctor Strange.”
“I want a prequel of the setting up of Kamar-Taj with Mordo, The Ancient One and Wong. That’s what I want and I’m telling you here right now,” she stated.
We’ll see what the future, or past, has in store for The Ancient One. “Doctor Strange” is now playing everywhere.
