Doctor Strange's Benedict Wong Clarifies Wong's Role in the Film

CBR

By Marykate Jasper

Published Oct 3, 2016

Benedict Wong opens up about his mystical character in the upcoming Doctor Strange film.

Benedict Wong promised that Wong definitely won't be "on tea-making duties" in the upcoming "Doctor Strange" film. He clarified the character's responsibilities at the Sanctum, personality and relationship with Doctor Strange in a recent interview with Screen Rant.

Wong explained that the role would be expanded and modernized from Wong's traditional responsibilities in the comics. "Things like 'manservant' and 'sidekick,' we’re just gonna leave back in the past now," he said, "I’m very much into looking forward into our modern take…let’s turn a whole new page."

In the film, Wong is instead, "a master at Kamar-Taj training the fellow disciples and sorcerers," as well as a "protector of the Sanctum relics and these ancient ritual books."

These responsibilities influence the character's personality. "He’s very serious about what he’s doing…it’s like a huge door that these extra-dimensional forces are now battering through, and there is a fight that no one is really seeing. So I think there’s a real importance about, in terms of his training and the importance of that everybody is prepped, really. So there is a seriousness about him."

Wong also elaborated on the relationship between Wong and the titular Sorcerer Supreme. "[Strange] comes into this world very much as a rookie…" he said, "It feels like Wong at the time is of a higher ranking, and then obviously with Strange discovers that he has these powers…We’ll see Wong and Doctor Strange come together and become, really, allies to fight against these extra-dimensional forces."

He added, "They’re quite an odd couple, really. They’re quite an oddball couple."

Directed by Scott Derrickson and also starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Stahlberg, Benjamin Bratt and Scott Adkins, “Doctor Strange” arrives in theaters on November 4.