At this point, the only things known about the upcoming Marvel film 'Doctor Strange' is that the title role will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch and that two other actors have already signed on to the movie.
Most recently, Academy Award winner Chiwetel Ejiofor's role in the film has been confirmed to be Baron Mordo. Before that, the possible casting of Tilda Swinton caused a mini ruckus since the 'Snowpiercer' actress was announced to portray The Ancient One, who is not only supposed to be Asian, but also male.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has addressed the concern over the gender (and race) swap of one of the main characters in 'Doctor Strange.' Feige recently spoke to Birth Movies Death about the casting.
"As we were developing this film we looked at The Ancient One as a mantle more than a specific person," Feige explained. "The sorcerers have been around for millennia, protecting us from things we didn't know about until this story. There have been multiple [Ancient Ones], even if this one has been around for five hundred years, there were others. This is a mantle, and therefore felt we had leeway to cast in interesting ways."
These #DoctorStrange fan made credits are AMAZING. @Marvel hire this guy. https://t.co/bgckCRJ2MF
— Jason Inman (@Jawiin) June 26, 2015
Feige was then asked whether the "phony Tibetan mysticism" will be removed from the 'Doctor Strange' plot. "Not entirely," he responded. "The phony mysticism is part of what makes Doctor Strange interesting!"
Marvel's main man then offered a small hint on where Stephen Strange will end up in his journey.
"Not Tibet," Feige said. "Strange leaves New York in search of something and heads east."
In the Marvel universe, 'east' could possibly mean the kingdom of Kamar-Taj, where The Ancient One resides.
.@Marvel’s #DoctorStrange Film Is Leaving Tibet Behind But Heading East Anyway https://t.co/fWQGG7rsfv #China pic.twitter.com/sNO52aeMs7 — The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) June 29, 2015
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Kevin Feige also revealed that the upcoming Marvel film 'Ant-man' might have a sequence that hints on what to expect in 'Doctor Strange.'
"We send Ant-Man on a very weird, mind-bending journey at the end of Ant-Man," Feige revealed. "It was something we hadn't seen in a shrinking movie before, but it also represents the tip of the mind-bending weirdness we're going to do in 'Strange,' which I think will surprise people."
'Doctor Strange' is scheduled for release on November 4, 2016.
