You know, my mama always said you should never talk about religion or politics over the dinner table. Well, I would add to that one more highly sensitive topic—comic books. More specifically, movie adaptations of comic books. Nothing is more certain to generate a hellstorm on Internet forums than minor changes made to beloved characters.
But the most recent atrocity to befall comic bookdom was the decision to change the Ancient One, a Tibetan male sorcerer in Doctor Strange, to a white woman in the upcoming movie. The movie’s creators have been lambasted for what’s being called another example of Hollywood “whitewashing.”
But earlier this month, actress Tilda Swinton, who has been cast as the Ancient One, said there were “very great reasons“ for the changes.
