Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Benedict Wong said that his Sorcerer Supreme is now a major force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actor, who plays Wong in the MCU, spoke to Empire magazine about his character's growing role in the universe. While he already held a high position during the first Doctor Strange, Spider-Man: No Way Home confirmed he is now the Sorcerer Supreme. And Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gave fans a taste of this, as Wong both seemed to be rehabilitating Abomination and then later helped induct the titular hero into the Avengers.
"I call it Phase Wong," the actor said. "It's a nice, interesting shift. Wong has taken on a new role, and that dynamic changes between them [Wong and Strange] both."
This isn't the first time the idea of Wong Supremacy has arisen. Back in December 2021, the actor revealed that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige joked that the MCU was fast becoming the Wong Cinematic Universe as the character began popping up in more and more places. In a sense, he's started filling the role Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury once had.
Of course, given the ego of Doctor Strange, many fans are wondering how the arrogant hero will react to Wong being in charge. For his part, however, Benedict Cumberbatch thinks it's a positive that Strange will get a little help from his friends.
"You can't be a superhero in isolation," Cumberbatch recently said. "They have to interact with people. Good, bad or indifferent. And whatever the outcomes are, there has to be an exchange. I think there is a buddy thing going on with Wong, for sure. That's the sort of odd-couple relationship akin to Watson and Sherlock. It's no secret that Wanda Maximoff is a big part of the next film, and that's all I'm gonna say. I can feel the little infrared dots creeping over the horizon."
While both Shang-Chi and No Way Home hinted at Wong's expanded role in the MCU, the films also left plenty of questions about just what he's up to. His fight with Abomination, and seeming friendship with the Hulk villain, was head-scratching enough, but the latest Spider-Man saw him jetting off just as Strange was about to do something regrettable. What could be so important that the Sorcerer Supreme would let someone meddle that much with magic? Hopefully, Multiverse of Madness will offer some answers.
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness arrives May 6 in theaters.
Source: Empire via /Film