Tilda Swinton Weighs In On Doctor Strange Whitewashing Criticism

Marvel’s recently released Doctor Strange trailer showcased not only Benedict Cumberbatch but also Tilda Swinton, who plays Strange’s mentor the Ancient One.

The casting was met with initial praise, as in the books the character is male. It also came with its fair share of disappointment, as the character in the books is also Asian, born in Tibet.

Swinton commented on the controversy to THR and dropped some hints that things might not be exactly what they seem.

“Well, it’s not actually an Asian character — that’s what I need to tell you about it. I wasn’t asked to play an Asian character, you can be very well assured of that.”

Finally, she added one last comment with a smile “You just have to wait and see, because it’s not an Asian character.”

That could mean any number of things, especially with the mystical realm the characters are based in. Hopefully, we’ll get some clarification on this sooner rather than later.