Wong has been a fan favorite and franchise mainstay of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his debut in Doctor Strange. Being one of the most skilled and influential members of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, he has proved to be an indispensable asset to the Avengers on and off the battlefield. As an integral supporting character thus far, Wong has heroically aided in the fight against the primordial inter-dimensional entity known as Dormammu and the genocidal war-hungry “Mad Titan” Thanos, among other threats like Kaecilius’ Zealots and the Black Order. And while he already has an impressive slate of appearances under his belt to date, Wong’s schedule is about to get much fuller as his profile continues to rise exponentially.
Wong has landed spots in an increasing number of Phase Four movies and TV series, such as the fourth and fifth episodes of What If…?, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the upcoming films Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Indeed, he is becoming a more prominent character from here on out as he becomes a permanent fixture in the MCU. So, while Marvel Studios and Disney+ continue to introduce plenty of new characters to fans this year, it looks like Wong has already earned the title of 2021’s breakout star given the number of spots he’s landed in some of the more essential Marvel properties.
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In truth, Wong has come a long way from his days as a sorcerer in training studying at Kamar-Taj under the Ancient One. By the time he showed up in Doctor Strange, Wong is the new librarian, following Kaecilius’s disillusionment with the cause and subsequent murder of the previous caretaker. Inside the Kamar-Taj library, Wong watched over the spellbooks, tomes and sacred incantations, vowing to protect the critical, high-level knowledge stored inside their bindings with his life. He also swore to safeguard the New York Sanctum alongside Doctor Strange after they saved the world at the Battle at the Hong Kong Sanctum, further proving his mettle and demonstrating his devotion to take up arms against those who wish to cause Earth harm.
However, Wong wasn’t always the strong, level-headed sorcerer with a surprising sense of humor that fans have come to know and adore today. Unfortunately, his character in the comics was deeply rooted in racism and harmful stereotypes. Essentially, Wong came from a long line of manservants tasked to look after Doctor Strange. It’s a vocation his family has held throughout history as they provide care and support for every Sorcerer Supreme that takes on the title. In fact, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Doctor Strange screenwriter Jon Spaihts stated “Wong — as rendered in the original comics — is so problematic that we weren’t sure he was going to make the cut. He needed to be more than a Man Friday to our hero. He needed to be a complex human being with power and agency and a presence of his own.”
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Thankfully, Spaihts and the other writers in charge of bringing Wong from the page to the screen did a fantastic job with his character’s transformation. In fact, fans love the character so much that they’re even demanding he gets his own spin-off TV series on Disney+. Benedict Wong, the actor who plays the stoic sorcerer in the MCU, even liked a tweet endorsing as much, going so far as to reply with a “thinking face” and “lightbulb emoji.” As a rising star in the MCU with several confirmed appearances on the horizon, Wong will undoubtedly be as busy as ever in Phase Four and beyond.
Check out Wong’s newest role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in theaters now.
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