Benedict Wong: “I Lost My Sh*t” Meeting Stan Lee on Red Carpet

When he joined the cast of Doctor Strange, Benedict Wong knew he was in store for some fun. The actor, a lifelong fan of Marvel Comics, could hardly believe he was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He found out he got the gig while filming in Malaysia, and he “immediately bought The Oath” and other Doctor Strange comics, “scouring through and trying to glean what I could,” the actor told ComicBook.com in an interview.

The theme of time in the film made him reflect on how he wound up there himself.

“Yes, time made me reflect about being that kid, spending all my pocket money on Spider-man comics, and time capsules of all that. It all became a bit like a whole, beautiful circle where everything kind of culminated with me being on a red carpet with Stan Lee,” Wong told us. The actor had a visceral reaction to meeting Stan “The Man” at the red carpet premiere for Doctor Strange.

“I lost my shit,” he said with a laugh. “Excuse my French. I was on a press line and [his press manager] Jason was ushering me to speak to other people, and I clocked Stan Lee. I couldn’t believe it. Just the hairs on the back of my neck. I went, ‘Jason, there’s Stan Lee.’ He’s like, ‘I know, I know. You’ll talk to him later.’ I wasn’t having any of it.” The actor was ready for his moment then and there.

“I was going, ‘No, no. I’m just going to go over and say hello.’ I just went up to Stan Lee in a really … I don’t know, it’s one of those reckless moments like when you meet Santa for the first time. I was like, ‘Oh. Stan, you don’t know me but …’ He immediately went, ‘You’re Wong! You are great.’ I didn’t even know if he meant me or the character [since they have the same name], but either way, I was just having it. I just couldn’t believe it. It was like … I don’t know. Stuff of dreams. Everything just melted, and it was incredible.”

The actor’s enthusiasm for the source material, and its creators, came off several times during the interview, and came off in his portrayal of Wong as well.

More Doctor Strange News:
Doctor Strange Artist Shares Otherworldly Dormammu Concept Pieces
Doctor Strange Deleted Scene Shows Dormammu Being Summoned
Marvel Introduces Dogtor Strange

Benedict Wong will reprise his role as Master Wong in Avengers: Infinity War, which began principal photography this month. Doctor Strange hits digital HD February 14, and DVD/Blu-ray on February 28.