Tilda Swinton Reacts to 'Doctor Strange' Whitewashing, Says Ancient One Is "Not Asian"

Although fans are already looking forward to seeing Benedict Cumberbatch play the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange, there are still some people who are unconvinced about the casting of Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One. There have even been claims of "whitewashing" a character that is depicted as an Asian man in the comic books. Now Swinton has spoken up about the controversy, stating that her version of Stephen Strange's mentor is "not an Asian character!"

Swinton recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, where she hinted that the Ancient One she portrays in the Marvel flick might not necessarily be the same one that appears in the comic books.

"Well, it's not actually an Asian character -- that's what I need to tell you about it," Swinton said, adding that she wasn't cast in Doctor Strange to portray someone of a particular race.

"I wasn't asked to play an Asian character, you can be very well assured of that," she said before stating that fans will have to watch the film to find out the truth behind the character, which she insists is not "Asian."

"You just have to wait and see, because it's not an Asian character," Swinton said.

The Chronicles of Narnia star even explained to UPI that the Ancient One she plays in Doctor Strange was never written to be either male or "Asian."

"The script that I was presented with did not feature an Asian man for me to play, so that was never a question when I was being asked to do it," Swinton stated, once again adding that "All will be revealed when you see the film."

"There are very great reasons for us to feel very settled and confident with the decisions that were made," she concluded.

See Swinton as the Ancient One in Doctor Strange, which hits theaters on Nov. 4.