8 Biggest Casting Mistakes In Upcoming Movies

3. Tilda Swinton As The Ancient One - Doctor Strange

Before I start, let me say one thing: this has little to do with the whitewashing issue surrounding Tilda Swinton's casting as the Ancient One. It's not the best choice, but I've written about this already and there's already been some interesting arguments from those involved about the choice to make the Tibetan sorcerer British.

It's not even really about the gender-swap either. As I highlighted in the McCarthy entry, that's a nothing issue. Especially as Marvel have been rejigging convention for ages and, as it's always worked towards crafting a stronger universe, let's let them go with it.

However, I don't quite get the casting of Swinton based on the direction they appear to be taking in the Doctor Strange trailer - there the Ancient One appears to be a rather straight female magician, which chimes with the official Marvel statement on the controversy saying she's a Celtic-heritage human who's found themselves in that position. OK, fine, but given how one of Swinton's biggest skills is playing androgynous, I'd assumed they'd be going for something more gender and racially neutral, an ethereal, other-realmly presence.

Again, Marvel usually know what they're doing (and Swinton is a great actress), so this may turn out fine, but at this point it feels like an odd choice to make.