Oscar Winner Tilda Swinton Reportedly Up for Ancient One Role in Doctor Strange
Male actors were previously considered.
Marvel Studios is reportedly looking to cast Oscar winner Tilda Swinton in their Doctor Strange movie.
According to THR, Swinton is in "negotiations" to play Strange's mystic mentor the Ancient One, a character who was an elderly Tibetan male in the comics.
"Marvel Studios initially was searching for a male actor," claims the trade. "But the studio rethought the role and has now made it female. If a deal makes, Swinton will play the Ancient One."
Those male actors said to have been considered include Morgan Freeman, Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy.
This wouldn't be Swinton's first gender switcheroo role in a supernatural comic book movie having previously played the Angel Gabriel in Constantine.
In addition to her roles in acclaimed films such as We Need to Talk About Kevin, Michael Clayton, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Adaptation, and Snowpiercer (itself a graphic novel adaptation), the famously eccentric English actress also played the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia trilogy.
Director Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange starts filming this November in the UK for a late 2016 release. Benedict Cumberbatch will play the title role.
