10 Biggest Controversies In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Here, some would say that Marvel were boldly defying audience expectations with a leftfield casting choice, while others would say that they were stupidly misrepresenting Asian culture, but it was the latter part of the conversation that ultimately won out amidst the Ancient One whitewashing controversy that took place last year.

In the comics, The Ancient One is an old, frail, Asian man, but the movie cast Tilda Swinton - a middle-aged white woman - and shaved her head in an attempt to bring her look closer to that of the source material.

Swinton was fine in the role and nobody could realistically complain about her performance; instead, it was her look that drew a reaction from angry commenters, who pointed out that the actress looked a little out of place when you consider what the character is actually supposed to look like...

And the fact that Marvel had so casually filled an Asian role with a white actress was seen as counter-progressive, with one of the biggest franchises in the world missing a golden opportunity to promote Asian actors on a worldwide scale.

Director Scott Derrickson attempted to explain the casting by stating that "the Ancient One is a very old American stereotype of what Eastern characters and people are like, and I felt very strongly that we need to avoid those stereotypes at all costs", but by this point, the damage had already been done.

A lot of fans were not on Marvel's side with the issue, and the controversy lingered over Doctor Strange throughout its theatrical release.