Casting Controversy For Doctor Strange

[Jack-Hammer]

The next original entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Doctor Strange and the casting of actress Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One has a good number of people upset.

In case you're unfamiliar with the controversy, the Ancient One is the title that was used by the man who taught Stephen Strange the mystic arts. The Ancient One in the comics was a 500 year old Tibetan monk who lived in the Himalayan Mountains. What's caused controversy is that Marvel's casting of the Ancient One is that they've gone the route of making the character both female and not of Asian descent.

For me personally, I don't see what the big deal is. I've noticed over the years that comic book fans and wrestling fans have so much in common in that they're so passionately into it that it's becoming more and more difficult to simply enjoy things because they put every single little thing under a microscope and are too busy with their own little fantasy scenarios. Tilda Swinton has played characters of androgynous characteristics in films before and given that the Ancient One isn't exactly among the top tier Marvel characters, it's a nonissue with me. Truth be told, I think they were clever in going this route as they, ironically, avoided using stereotypes altogether. I mean, few characters are more cliché than the aged, serene, wise Asian master who lives like a monk in isolation seeking to master the mysteries of the universe.

 

[Alex]

I read somewhere (might've been IGN) that Marvel didn't want to upset the Chinese (as they're a large portion of the movie going market) because of the controversy surrounding China and Tibet so they got rid of that element entirely.

What's interesting is (what I've read) the Ancient One was done as a caricature/stereotype of Asian culture so removing that aspect is good. I mean if they'd cast a Chinese actor the Tibetans would have been upset, if they cast a Tibetan the Chinese would have been upset. If they'd cast someone from Korea or Japan that might have brought up the whole 'All Asians look the same' backlash.

I think this decision like the Ghost In The Shell one was done more for financial reasons than any other. If China had boycotted the movie and refused to distribute it that's a large percentage of profits out the window.

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

I'm a hardcore Marvel fan and I couldn't give two shits about that decision, meaning that I don't really care.

I know the movie is going to be great because it's Marvel, so, no big deal. I actually liked the fact that they're getting away of the "old wise asian guy" cliche.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

I don't really care either way and I love comics. I think the movie looks like it'll be amazing and I absolutely love everything Cumberbatch does.

 

[justinsayne]

This is just stupid idiot fanboys looking for something new to be outraged about, in truth nobody gives a fuck, & the second they see the movie they'll probably be raving about how awesome it was, & barely give any attention to the Ancient One's gender.

 

[Navdeep]

Tilda was fantastic as a ancient one, she owned the role completely.

 

[Navi]

Okay first off I'm not a Marvel fangirl, don't even know if I've ever seen a Marvel movie and probably never will. In saying that though, it's sometimes hard to understand why people get so invested in things like this. If I've read it correctly this is from a comic book right? So big whoop if they changed something around.

If they pan the movie because of something like this, then are they really fans of the Marvel comic's as they say they are?

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

I saw the movie, it was awesome, she was awesome and quite a breath of fresh air from the typical very old chinese wise guy cliche stereotype.

The casting are not the ones to blame, but how true a movie stays to their characters as far as their personalities go when compared to the comics.

For example, Jared Leto's Joker was crap, because it was like watching some typical thug, being in love with Harley (wtf) and a lot of forced acting. Luthor was more Joker than the Joker was himself.