Will Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Doctor Strange character be friend or foe?

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

It was recently revealed that Mads Mikkelsen's as-yet-unnamed character would be the main villain in Scott Derrickson's DOCTOR STRANGE; however, with Chiwetel Ejiofor taking on the role of Baron Mordo, traditionally known as an adversary of Doctor Strange, we were left wondering whether Baron Mordo would be friend or foe in the new film. Chiwetel Ejiofor spoke with Entertainment Weekly recently and, despite playing coy, suggested that his character may be a bit of both.

Oh, he’s a very complex character that, really, I don’t think can be nailed down either way, you know, I guess it’s something to experience, is what I’d say.

If I had to guess, I'd say that Marvel is hoping for something similar to the Loki/Thor relationship and that the end of DOCTOR STRANGE will see the two former friends pitted against one another. DOCTOR STRANGE will follow Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he begins his relationship with The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), but Mordo has already been involved with the ancient sorcerer for quite a long time.

In terms of his life with the Ancient One, it’s this long and intense relationship they have that’s just very deep and very connected, I think they both recognize in Strange this certain quality that they feel is going to be very useful in a situation they’re in — just by the nature of who he is, and the way that he operates, and the way his mind works, and the certain skill set and personality that he has. So, when they all meet, they realize that he’s somebody that can be plugged into this very surreal, interesting, sort of fascinating circumstance that they’re all in, and the dangers that they face. And so it becomes a process of assimilating him into their ways of life.

DOCTOR STRANGE is set for a November 4, 2016 release.