Tilda Swinton has confirmed that she is set to star in Marvel’s upcoming standalone, Doctor Strange.
Speaking to Screen Crush, the British actress confirmed that negotiations with the studio had come to a close and that she was definitely going to appear in the 2016 film. “We’re so far in talks that we’re not talking any more,” Swinton said. “It’s done. The conversation has been had.”
Swinton is set to play The Ancient One – a mystic mentor who trains both Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his nemesis Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in the dark arts of magic. In the comics, the character was originally an older, Asian male – making Swinton’s casting decidedly more interesting.
Talking about what intrigued her into taking the role, Swinton stated; “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!”
The film will see Sherlock star, Benedict Cumberbatch taking on the lead role, while Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the film’s main antagonist. It has also been rumoured that Rachel McAdams is in talks to play the movie’s leading lady.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, Doctor Strange is set to be released in the UK on 28th October 2016.
Marvel’s latest film, Ant Man, comes out in the UK later this week. Watch the trailer below.
