Tilda Swinton Cast as The Ancient One

[Endeavor]

Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me at all.
Those hyper political over controlling morons think having time travel in movies "disrespects history", so I wouldn't put anything past them.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

I don't know whether there's any validity at all to this (I haven't really dug into it that much), but I've seen some on other boards speculate (so please, just take it as speculation), that wanting to remain on good business terms with China may have also contributed to the why they cast the Ancient One the way they did. That - given the situation and history between China and Tibet - they may have wanted to avoid having the character come across as a Dalai Lama type of character.

Again... I haven't dug into it/don't know if there's any validity to it. So take it worth a grain of salt (if even that)

Yes, this is also what I've heard too. Marvel really wants their movies to be approved by Chinese censors, as china makes them a lot of money. The chinese government would apparently rather have the role whitewashed than have the Ancient One be a wise mystical Tibetan.

 

[Silvermoth]

Hmm, that doesn't sound likely to be honest. I don't think that's something China asked for

 

[Marvel Knight]

I hope there's a reason in the film why the Ancient One takes the form of a middle-aged White woman.

It would be awkward casting without an in-story explanation.

 

[SirStrangefolk]

Hmm, that doesn't sound likely to be honest. I don't think that's something China asked for

I'm not sure if China asked for it. I don't know how these things work, but I'd imagine the movie has to be made first and approved after? In that case I could see movie studios taking absolutely no risk whatsoever when making the movie, so they can be guaranteed they'll get their money from the Chinese audience.

 

[jed]

Just saw the trailer.

The Ancient One is supposed to be an Asian male but now they changed to a Caucasian woman.

Another typical whitewashing by Hollywood.


This isn't the first time in a Marvel movie. Remember what they did to the "Mandarin" in Iron Man 3?

 

[jed]

Sorry about my previous post. I apologize for it.

Since this is a Hollywood western production, they can cast whoever they want.

I totally support Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One.

 

[Pokkle]

What is funny is that Baron Mordo is also asian and now he is black.
But everyone focus only on Tilda.

They will probably be both great anyways.

 

[Mike Murdock]

I don't think Baron Mordo was Asian. I thought he was Eastern European or something. His first name is Karl.

 

[TheVision]

NOTE: The Ancient One in the film isnt supposed to be Asian. Shes one of many Ancient Ones of all diff races.

Also the MCU isnt the comics.

 

[Pokkle]

I don't think Baron Mordo was Asian. I thought he was Eastern European or something. His first name is Karl.

My bad, he looked asian in the Doctor Strange's cartoon movie that I watched a long time ago.
http://images2.static-bluray.com/reviews/450_1.jpg

Yeah, they said that The Ancient One was a title in the movie.

 

[metaphysician]

I don't know whether there's any validity at all to this (I haven't really dug into it that much), but I've seen some on other boards speculate (so please, just take it as speculation), that wanting to remain on good business terms with China may have also contributed to the why they cast the Ancient One the way they did. That - given the situation and history between China and Tibet - they may have wanted to avoid having the character come across as a Dalai Lama type of character.

Again... I haven't dug into it/don't know if there's any validity to it. So take it worth a grain of salt (if even that)

I suppose its *plausible*, but the problem I have with this angle is that one of the things Chinese censors object to is "occult practice". While I'm sure using a Tibetan as a main character would almost certainly set them off, I'm not sure there's any way to write Dr Strange that wouldn't risk it.

 

[metaphysician]

I hope there's a reason in the film why the Ancient One takes the form of a middle-aged White woman.

It would be awkward casting without an in-story explanation.

Stupid question, but: why? Why would the story presume something else?

Note: the fact that TAO is a different gender and ethnicity in the source material is not an in-story reason.

 

[regnak]

Stupid question, but: why? Why would the story presume something else?

Note: the fact that TAO is a different gender and ethnicity in the source material is not an in-story reason.

Well Ancient One should at least look pretty damn old even if you gender and race swap the character. And if China would be upset they should have cast an Indian. TAO looked like Ghandi with Fu Manchu like facial hair to me anyway.

 

[yllum]

yeah..I have no problem with her casting. .

However I will be happier if she is older. Ancient one is a really old dude in the comics; I was reading dr strange 169 last week..ancient one looks really old.

I think if marvel change race of main tier character, they will face huge backlash. .imaging they cast a white man as black panther? I will be angry with that!

 

[Pokkle]

She won't be the only and first Ancient One, it's why she look younger.
And probably because magic.

They choose her for her unique look, it look like they tried to have mysterious genderless figure.

Also, within the storyline of the comics, and our movie, ‘the Ancient One’ is a title that many people have had. We hit very early on on, What if the Ancient One was a woman? What if the title had been passed and the current Ancient One is a woman? Oh, that’s an interesting idea. [Clicks fingers.] Tilda Swinton! Whoah! And it just hit.”

Look, she’s a chameleon in everything she does,” says Feige of Swinton, whose credits include Snowpiercer, Trainwreck, and 1992’s Orlando, in which her character transformed from male to female. “She has this amazing [ability to] harness of this androgynous sense. So, we use the term ‘her’ and ‘she’ in the film but, other than that, it’s very androgynous. Because it doesn’t matter.”

 

[RockSP]

I have some issues with Swinton as the character, but her looking old isn't important at all, IMO. This is a movie about magic and people can't accept someone not looking their actual age...?

 

[Silvermoth]

NOTE: The Ancient One in the film isnt supposed to be Asian. Shes one of many Ancient Ones of all diff races.

Also the MCU isnt the comics.

It does take away from an Asian role though. Besides Wong, who doesn't seem to have much of a role in this one til the next one I would say there doesn't seem to be many Asian roles in this and the idea that an Asian role is being played by a white woman is understandably ruffling a few feathers.

Plus, I wonder where all those people who said that iron fist has to be white because he's white in the comics are on this issue? They went ballistic over iron fist but they're nowhere on this

 

[Pokkle]

It does take away from an Asian role though. Besides Wong, who doesn't seem to have much of a role in this one til the next one I would say there doesn't seem to be many Asian roles in this and the idea that an Asian role is being played by a white woman is understandably ruffling a few feathers.

Plus, I wonder where all those people who said that iron fist has to be white because he's white in the comics are on this issue? They went ballistic over iron fist but they're nowhere on this

It's easy people care about the character they know and liked and they don't care much about the character they don't know, at least it's how it work for me.

I read and liked several Iron Fist stories like The Immortal Iron Fist so yeah, I am happy when he look like the character I liked.

If they had cast an asian, he would probably have been great anyways and I would have still watch and liked the show but personally I prefer a more accurate adapatation for him.


The Ancient One, I never read anything about him in my life so yeah I care way less.

I don't care that Quake is asian in AOS since I read the Secrets Warriors's comics thanks to the show.
But I am also glad that they made her look more and more like the character with her short hair and costume.

 

[MichaelChen]

Just saw the trailer.

The Ancient One is supposed to be an Asian male but now they changed to a Caucasian woman.

Another typical whitewashing by Hollywood.


This isn't the first time in a Marvel movie. Remember what they did to the "Mandarin" in Iron Man 3?

Mandarin's half-white, and him being a money-squandering aristocrat defines him more than nationality. Ancient One is practically Tibetan-Mysticism-Incarnate.

 

[Slushy]

Marvel Studios doesn't care about Asian actors.

 

[Typhoon22]

Honestly would've loved if they could've gotten an Asian actress for the ancient one. Nothing against Tilda but she stood out in that trailer for me. She looked and acted like Tilda with a bald cap. I never felt like ''ooh that's the ancient one right there''.

I understand the direction they are going into with the androgynous look (not many actresses have that if any at all).

 

[Kane52630]

Madame Gao was whitewashed?

 

[Pokkle]

Madame Gao was whitewashed?

Not Gao, the Ancient One.

But they did to avoid stereotype though:

think if you look at some of the early incarnations of the Ancient One in the comics, they are what we would consider today to be quite, sort of, stereotypical. They don’t hold up to what would work today. Also, within the storyline of the comics, and our movie

 

[Silvermoth]

I think they could have challenged the stereotype better than just by getting a white woman to do it