Doctor Strange: 11 Giant Questions It Leaves Unanswered

4. Is The Ancient One Permanently Dead?

Doctor Strange Open Mind.jpg
Marvel Studios

The Question: This question always arises when someone dies in the MCU: is the Ancient One really dead after succumbing to her injuries in the real world? Or can she eventually be magicked back into existence?

The Likely Answer: Given how much import her death was lent, what it means for Strange and Mordo moving forward and the finality of her speech, it seems like a resounding yes.

As brilliant as Tilda Swinton was in the part, this seems like the right call, especially given how the MCU struggles with establishing firm life-and-death stakes. To have a mystical being of the Ancient One's power actually stay dead would help redress the balance a little.

Yes, she could probably return in some spiritual form because it's all basically magical nonsense, but that doesn't seem massively likely.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.