We've heard it all before: a white American actor or actress cast in a role that was clearly originated from text as Asian, Latin, or any race that isn't white. Film-goers have most recently seen blatant whitewashing of the anime classic, "Ghost in the Shell," an upcoming film directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Scarlett Johansson in a role clearly originated by a Japanese in the manga of the same name.
Marvel faced backlash when they cast Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton in the highly anticipated "Doctor Strange" film as The Ancient One, originally a Tibetan man in the comic book series. The studio's first excuse for casting the actress was that in the film adaptation, The Ancient One was to be Celtic, The Vulture reports. This aligns with Swinton's remarks regarding her casting earlier this year, when she assured The Hollywood Reporter that she "wasn't asked to play an Asian character."
Despite Marvel coming to her aid to defend their casting choice, it seems that controversy and backlash is still imminent, especially when the first trailer debuted in April, depicting Swinton sa The Ancient One in what looked like Asian garb. A second "Doctor Strange" trailer was released during the SDCC, providing a closer look at the major players in the film.
With "Doctor Strange" arriving in theaters soon, Swinton spoke with Entertainment Weekly in an effort to once again squash the claims that the film is indeed whitewashing character from its comic books. She admits that she stands by anyone who calls for a "more accurate representation of the diverse world we live in."
Swinton calls the controversy surrounding this "Doctor Strange" casting a "misunderstanding," and an "opportunity" for such issues to come to light. She reassured audiences that once the film comes out in November, they would understand how Marvel's film adaptation of The Ancient One plays out on screen.
"Doctor Strange" hits theaters on November 4. Check out the trailer below.
