Tilda Swinton is in talks to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Doctor Strange’.
The 54-year-old actress is up for the role as The Ancient One, who is traditionally depicted as a man, in the Marvel Studios movie about the magical superhero, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film centres around young neurosurgeon Stephen Vincent Strange who becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, the primary protector of Earth against mystical and magical threats who is trained by The Ancient One.
In the original comic book series The Ancient One character is of Himalayan descent and critics have pointed out that if Tilda is cast as the 500-year-old sorcerer, it could be seen as a loss for ethnic diversity.
Changing a character’s gender or ethnicity is something that has become common place in Marvel Studios movies.
Black British actor Idris Elba was cast as the Norse god Heimdall in the ‘Thor’ movies, while Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury across a number of Marvel films. Both roles had previously been depicted as white.
Tilda Swinton set for Doctor Strange role
