It feels as though it's been ages since we first heard that Tilda Swinton was in talks to play The Ancient One in Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE, but I suppose my ability to comprehend the passage of time isn't what it once was thanks to the events of SDCC '15. I'd elaborate but you know what they say, "what happens at San Diego Comic-Con stays at San Diego Comic-Con…unless it leaks." While doing press for TRAINWRECK, the actress spoke with ScreenCrush and confirmed that talks with Marvel have closed and that the role of The Ancient One is indeed hers.
No no no, it’s done. We’re so far in talks that we’re not talking any more [laughs]. It’s done. The conversation has been had.
I've always been in awe of Tilda Swinton's outstanding chameleon-like ability to transform into such a wide variety of characters, so I've got no difficulty picturing her stepping into the role of the powerful sorcerer. Tilda Swinton, who counts herself as a Marvel fan, found that the role of The Ancient One was one that she just couldn't say no to:
Well, there’s no particular interest in getting into something bigger, or even smaller, I just really liked the premise of this and the idea of playing this character. I’m a Marvel fan and I think this particular world that Doctor Strange goes into is really, really, really exciting. I’m really interested as both an actor and a fan to see what’s done in this particular world. It’s all about creativity. It’s not about everything exploding at the end. It’s about something very different. The idea of playing The Ancient One is really just too tickling. I can’t say no to that!
DOCTOR STRANGE stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo, and will open in theaters on November 4, 2016.