MCU: 15 Marvel characters who deserve more screen time

6. The Ancient One

There was something remarkable about Tilda Swinton’s performance as the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange that made it absolutely impossible to look away from her whenever she was on-screen – and given that she appears in a film headlined by the eccentric character of Stephen Strange, that really says a lot. But she didn’t just own the role, she commanded it and, with ease, portrayed The Ancient One like the all-knowing, all-powerful, un-aging being that she was.

A mystic and a teacher, she could sense danger and overpower it 99.9% of the time and she played a vital role in giving the world the hero it needed in Stephen Strange. Unfortunately, that minute fraction of danger that she couldn’t ward off was down to the fact that her gifts would only allow her to see up to her death and, upon that tragic event, she could finally rest, knowing that the world was in Doctor Strange’s capable hands.

The Ancient One is, without a doubt, one of the most alluring and enigmatic characters to ever grace the MCU, so to have her only play a significant role in one film would be a major missed opportunity. Granted, the character is dead in the present but as we’ve seen with films like Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel, the MCU loves a good period piece, so there’s always a chance that she could (and, quite frankly, she should) show up in Phase Four.

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Furthermore, as we saw with Avengers: Endgame, magic and mysticism are both continuing to play an increased role so, with Doctor Strange 2 on the horizon, there’s a strong possibility that she could return through some form of mystic arts.