It’s not until this very moment that I realized that the Tilda Swinton-esque character in Trainwreck actually IS Tilda Swinton. Damn it! Tilda got cast in Judd Aptow’s Amy Schumer comedy and that somehow escaped me this whole time. These are photos of Tilda at last night’s NYC premiere. The premiere was the most random red carpet I’ve ever seen, mostly because this cast is so out-there. In addition to Tilda playing a supporting part (the editor of the magazine Schumer’s character writes for), you’ve got LeBron James playing Bill Hader’s best friend and John Cena playing Amy’s ex-boyfriend. I imagine Tilda enjoyed working with all of them.
Tilda has been in NYC for a few days to do some press for Trainwreck, and it’s been glorious as always. When Tilda was chatting with ScreenCrush, they asked her about the casting rumor for Doctor Strange, and whether she’s really signed on to play The Ancient One, meaning she’ll be playing Benedict Cumberbatch’s mentor. Tilda says it’s a done deal.
Whether she’s still in talks with Marvel: “No no no, it’s done. We’re so far in talks that we’re not talking any more [laughs]. It’s done. The conversation has been had.”
Why Doctor Strange? “Well, there’s no particular interest in getting into something bigger, or even smaller, I just really liked the premise of this and the idea of playing this character. I’m a Marvel fan and I think this particular world that Doctor Strange goes into is really, really, really exciting. 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 idea of playing The Ancient One is really just too tickling. I can’t say no to that!
Whether she worried about signing a Marvel contract for multiple films: “Not at all. 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 on to the tail of a galloping horse at this point.
On Idris Elba complaining about doing so many Marvel movies: “Really? Oh… I’m up for it completely. I feel sorry for Idris. I’m not prepared at all to be bored by this. I’m really looking forward to it.”
This is possibly the most Tilda-y thing ever. Sure, you EXPECT her to show up in offbeat European films. You expect her to show up in art-house films that are only shown in two theaters in America. You don’t expect her to take a part in Judd Aptow’s Trainwreck just for fun. You don’t expect her to enjoy Marvel films and sign multiple-picture Marvel contracts because Marvel is like a “family”. It’s just weird. My theory? Even though she’s raising flower children/teenagers in a Scottish school with no desks, no grades and no tests, her sons are probably still kind of normal kids and they love to see Marvel movies. So Tilda has probably seen them all. She probably loves Captain America and Black Widow.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I love the Swinton, but I don’t love Marvel. Gone are the days when I look forward to Marvel films, so I’ll decide whether to see this depending on whether the marketing interests me. The premise of sorcery and chanting incantations are not particularly my thing, and I’m superheroed out.
Just from the previews, LeBron looks like he does a good job and his scenes are pretty funny.
Am I the only one uncomfortable with this casting?
I mean, I love Tilda and I’m all for casting more women, and I love the genderbending of roles originally meant for men. But The MCU has a real problem with representation, and in the comics, The Ancient One is Tibetan.
Tibetan was never going to stay because Marvel usually grosses a big chunk in China.
I’m actually not sure what Marvel is doing. The director make reference to the Ancient One being a tableau and allowing them to cast in interesting ways, plural. Made me think more than one person is playing this character. There were a few other non-white actors mentioned, and if they cast them all, that could be pretty cool. Plus it would make it more flexible for Swinton.
Blame a touchy Chinese government for the change in the Ancient One. Bear in mind too that they have armies of hackers ( and I’m among the many citizens in the US whose personal date was compromised by the OPM hack by the way).
Can The Ancient One go in search of a planet that is a solid diamond, which emits the sound of a giant gong? Once there, can she play chess with Loki?
That had BETTER be a part of the story or I will be most fractious!
“Fractious” is the perfect word. Seriously, Feige would be insane to blow that opportunity. And while they play chess, they can discuss the authors of gothic romance with pictures of Shakespeare and Hank Williams on the wall behind them
Tilda certainly knows how to rock a suit.
I like Marvel. I like Tilda. And although she does a lot of little offbeat movies, this isn’t really out of character. She was in the three Narnia movies, so she’s not completely opposed to signing contracts, and she occasionally does things like Benjamin Button or Michael Clayton.
I suspect this is one part personal amusement, probably for family’s sake, and one part getting a bit bigger check than she would for an art house film. Nothing wrong with either.
I think Tilda is thinking “Wow, I need to rack up more money! Trust funds are expensive, and interest rates are still very low!” It’s a tough world out there, guys. Sometimes you have to follow the money so that you can continue to fund idealistic education projects and star in art house films. Note: I would be perfectly happy to have such choices.
I have zero interest in Marvel films for the most part. I’m skipping them all. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton can get me to put my toned butt into a seat, but otherwise pffffffffft.
I happen to have a very old love for Doctor Strange– I subscribed to those comics when I was a child and wrote detailed fan letters to the writers about what I thought they should do with the stories. More Wong! More Clea! And how big is the Sanctum Sanctorum, anyway? I fully expect Marvel to massacre the whole ‘verse and ruin it. For Tilda though, I will go.
Btw, her kids Honor and Xavier are a girl and a boy respectively.
I just love her more and more.
Tilda 4-evah. That is all.
Hi
“I’m a Marvel fan and I think this particular world that Doctor Strange goes into is really, really, really exciting.”
Suuuuuuuuurrreeee.
And I bet had it been DC knocking on her door for a multi-movie franchise, then she would have been a fan of DC as well. lol
“I’m not prepared at all to be bored by this.”
– madly in love with this sentence. Be prepared for me to use this ALL THE TIME.
And the variations: “Heir, Heiress – I am not prepared to scream at you until I am crimson in the face today; keep that in mind.”
I shall tell my students that on the first day of each semester. Throw down the gauntlet.
I am not prepared at all to be undone by your fabulousness, t.fanty. I fear it will happen, though – your fabulousness has that effect.
God I love her and think its awesome she is playing him!
Just here to give some love to the Swinton. Tilda being in Doctor Strange is maybe the only thing that could entice me to see it. Add Chiwetel and it’s a done deal.