The makers of Marvel's
Doctor Strange movie were faced with a bit of a challenge when it came to adapting the character of Wong for the upcoming film. Wong was originally conceived as a sidekick/valet to Doctor Strange, something that has been updated in recent publications to reflect a change from the racial stereotypes of old. Marvel opted to do the same in their film, making Wong a master of the mystic arts along with a keeper of the relics of Kamar-Taj.
In a new interview with
Screen Rant, actor Benedict Wong shared his thoughts on the reinterpretation of the character.
"Well, I kind of think things like 'manservant' and 'sidekick,' we’re just gonna leave back in the past now," Wong said.
"I’m very much into looking forward into our modern take and back in on the beginnings of this origin story, now. So, you know, let’s turn a whole new page."
In the film's story, Wong plays a role in training Doctor Strange, and that's where the two will begin to form a bond when Wong discovers Strange mastering his abilities.
"Wong is in our world now, a master at Kamar-Taj training the fellow disciples and sorcerers, and [he’s a] protector of the Sanctum relics and these ancient ritual books, and it’s where we’ll see Wong and Doctor Strange come together and become, really, allies to fight against these extra-dimensional forces...I mean, obviously, [Strange] comes into this world very much as a rookie, and we discover and find out how Strange develops these amazing techniques that he has in the mystical arts, and that is something that Wong picks up on."