"Doctor Strange" writer explains the casting of a white actor to play Ancient One in the upcoming film. He said that the choice was made to cut Tibetan and Chinese ties to the role.
Much has been said about Hollywood's tendency to cast white actors for Asian characters such as the casting of Scarlett Johansson in the live-action adaptation of "Ghost In The Shell." "Doctor Strange" is in the same position when Tinda Swinton was booked for the role of the Ancient One.
The decision to cast Swinton to the role was not as smooth sailing as the studio wanted it to be. Critics pointed out that Hollywood's practice of whitewashing Asian characters in live adaptations is a practice that needs to be stopped.
In "Doctor Strange," the movie's co-writer Robert Cargill said that the decision to cast neither a Tibetan or Chinese actress for the role of Ancient One was deliberately done to avoid being accused of taking a political stance, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
He explained that Ancient One originates from Tibet. Acknowledging that the character is Tibetan may send the wrong signal to the Chinese government because of its current beef with the Free Tibet movement. On the other hand, if they cast a Chinese actress to play the role of a Tibetan, the same could still happen.
"The thing about the Ancient One is it is Marvel's Kobayashi Maru. There is no other character in Marvel history that is such a cultural landmine, that is absolutely unwinnable," Cargill told Double Toasted.
Meanwhile, Swinton said that "Doctor Strange's'" Ancient One will depart from its comicbook version. She said that that the Ancient One is "not actually an Asian Character," Indiewire reported.
For the uninitiated, The Ancient One will be Doctor Strange's mentor in his quest to become the sorcerer supreme.
Marvel is gearing up for the release of "Doctor Strange" later this year. The film will be critical for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe because it will be the film that will fully immerse the concept of mysticism and dimensions in Phase 3 of the MCU.
Watch the video below to see MCU's version of The Ancient One: