Tilda Swinton Challenges Marvel’s Gender Roles

Tilda Swinton, graceful ice princess on stage and on screen, will definitely be appearing in the upcoming Marvel film, Doctor Strange, as The Ancient One. However, what's not decided is whether Swinton will play the role as a male or female. This detail about the possible gender-bending role, was dropped in the final line of a profile on Swinton, published by The Guardian on July 24. Although the film won't be out until November 4, 2016, Marvel obsessives are already picking this decision apart. As mentioned, in the comics The Ancient One is a man, yet casting directors had already made a definite choice to break away from some of the character's defining qualities. While in the comic The Ancient One is Asian, Swinton is white. She's known for her androgynous looks, and as Screen Crush points out, has played at least one character without a truly defined gender, Gabriel in the movie Constantine. Swinton's latest role was in Trainwreck as Amy Schumer's intimidating boss, and she will be appearing in the Coen brother comedy Hail, Caesar! early next year. She'll star in Doctor Strange along side Benedict Cumberbatch, who is playing the titular Doctor Strange.