'Doctor Strange': Tilda Swinton Confirms Her Role As The Ancient One In Benedict Cumberbatch's Marvel Film

Tilda Swinton is excited to play the Ancient One in “Doctor Strange.” Confirming her role in the film, the Scottish actress told Screen Crush that she really liked the “idea of playing the character.” She added that she has always been a big fan of Marvel films and is happy to be part of one.

"I think this particular world that ‘Doctor Strange’ goes into is really, really, really exciting," Swinton said. "I’m really interested as both an actor and a fan to see what’s done in this particular world. It’s all about creativity. It’s not about everything exploding at the end. It’s about something very different.”

The Oscar-winner has not signed a multi-picture deal and does not know as yet in what other films will her character appear. “It’s like a family thing. Who knows where one might pop up? I don’t know where they’ll use me and I don’t know that they know, necessarily, even though they seem to know what they’re doing for the next decade. I think it’s like holding onto the tail of a galloping horse at this point,” she said.

In the comics, the Ancient One is male. He travels the Earth and fights evil forces until he makes a home in Himalayas. He participates in the tournament organized by Aged Genghis and wins the title of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. He later teaches Doctor Stephen Strange magic and makes him his successor. The powers of the character includes magic, energy blast, teleportation and astral projection. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created the character.

Scott Derrickson is directing “Doctor Strange” based on the screenplay by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer. Benedict Cumberbatch will play Doctor Strange and Rachel McAdams is reported to play the female lead. The film opens Oct. 28, 2016.