Tilda Swinton Makes Statement On Doctor Strange Casting Controversy

While there are plenty of fans excited for Doctor Strange, there’s still a group of moviegoers who’re determined to boycott the film due to Tilda Swinton’s casting. Their issue is not with the actress herself, but rather with Swinton’s role. Cast as the Ancient One, Swinton was inundated with criticism earlier this yea as fans grew angry with her for accepting a role traditionally held by someone who’s Asian.

And, now, Swinton is again addressing the controversially decision and emphasizing her work isn’t “whitewashing” the Ancient One.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Swinton said, “Anybody calling for more accurate representation of the diverse world we live in has got me standing right beside them.”

The actress then went on to speak about Doctor Strange‘s inclusive casting, championing the film’s voice for minorities. “I think when people see this film, they’re going to see that it comes from a very diverse place, in all sorts of ways,” she said. “Maybe this misunderstanding around this film has been an opportunity for that voice to be heard, and I’m not against that at all. But I do think that when people see the film, they’ll see that it’s not necessarily a target for that voice.”

This is the second time Swinton has defended her place in the film as she’s already said she wasn’t “asked to play an Asian character.” Marvel echoed her statements as they told fans 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.”

Still, plenty of fans are unhappy with Doctor Strange‘s character change. Many wonder why the film couldn’t just keep the Ancient One as Tibetan, but the decision more than likely came down to money. In order to appease the lucrative Chinese market, Marvel may have opted to forgo a Tibetan character due to the countries’ rocky history.

So, for now, fans will have to decide whether or not they trust Swinton’s words on good faith until the film hits theaters. Audiences will be able to decide for themselves when Doctor Strange is released on November 4th 2016.

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