Benedict Wong, renowned for his portrayal of Wong (ironic, huh), the stoic and powerful ally to Doctor Strange, has recently hinted at his character’s imminent comeback. Interestingly, it might not be in the Doctor Strange sequel.
During the premiere of Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, Wong shared teasers about his future in the MCU. All he revealed to Comicbook.com was that “something’s looming,” without providing concrete details about his upcoming appearance. As expected, the internet was quickly filled with all kinds of reactions to what the future holds for the current Sorcerer Supreme.
Among the floated theories, one standout possibility is a live-action adaptation of Marvel’s hit comic series, Strange Academy. Given Wong’s crucial and spoilery role in the closing scenes of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he takes America Chavez under his tutelage, the stage seems set for a deeper exploration into the mystical arts.
Strange Academy focuses on a magical school created by Doctor Strange. The comic book series, which made its debut in March 2020, centers around a group of young students from various backgrounds, realms, and dimensions who are brought together to learn the mystical arts.
Situated in New Orleans, the school is run by Doctor Strange, along with other established Marvel magic users such as Brother Voodoo, the Scarlet Witch, and Magik, who all act as instructors and mentors to the students.
If Marvel decides to pursue an on-screen adaptation of Strange Academy, it would inject the MCU with a host of new characters that could drive the mystical side of the Marvel Universe for a while, and simultaneously inject new talent and freshness to what many think has become a stale universe.
As character evolutions go, many will agree that Wong’s journey from a mere librarian to the revered Sorcerer Supreme happened in a rather unusual way. Reflecting on his initial discussions about the role in an interview with Variety, Wong expressed his determination to steer clear of outdated stereotypes, aiming instead for an authentic portrayal.
“We created this no-nonsense, midfield general librarian with hints of Roy Keane [former Manchester United footballer] in there. This character has progressed now, and I found out when Sam Raimi was on a conference call and talking me through the story. Here was this legend. He said, ‘Of course, you’re going to be the Sorcerer Supreme,’ and as this geek, it’s so great what they’ve done with the character and how he stands toe-to-toe with Doctor Strange.”
Obviously, the road from concept to actualization is very challenging, especially for a Marvel Studios project. Brad Winderbaum, a key figure at Marvel Studios, has admitted to an overflow of projects in development, suggesting a future where not all envisioned ventures see the light of day.
Still, Marvel has to be aware that since it has elevated Wong’s status to Sorcerer Supreme, his story has to move forward in one way or another. Whether this will be through a solo project or a new adaptation like Strange Academy, fans will be keen to see how Wong’s story will be set up in the vast multiverse narrative.
