Is Wong an Eternal & Is He in the Movie?

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were left puzzled when Gilgamesh appeared on the screen. Several people thought this character was Wong or was played by the same actor. So is Gilgamesh actually Wong, or was he played by the same actor?

Wong is not an Eternal and does not appear in the Eternals film. The character in Eternals is the Eternal Gilgamesh, played by Ma Dong Suk, also known as Don Lee. Wong is a different character altogether and played by a different actor, Benedict Wong.

The two just look similar due to their Asian ethnicity. Over the years, Marvel and Disney have made it a point to create a diverse cast by including actors of different races, backgrounds, and colors.

Is Wong in the Eternals Movie?

Wong does not show up in the Eternals movie at any point in the film. The Wong look-alike has been the character Gilgamesh all along. Gilgamesh is an Eternal who came to earth long before Wong was born.

Wong is also a full-fledged human being who becomes Sorcerer Supreme in the MCU. Meanwhile, the character Gilgamesh comes from a race created by the Celestials to stop the Deviants. While they did exist simultaneously at one point, the two have never crossed paths.

The Eternals only get involved in fights when a “Deviant” is involved. Meanwhile, Wong has appeared in a number of MCU films and has helped the Avengers fight their enemies.

Gilgamesh also died during the events of the Eternals movie that was set in the year 2023. Meanwhile, Wong is shown to be very much alive in 2024 during the Shang-Chi movie as he made a cameo in the middle of the film and at the end of the film. This goes to show that these two are separate characters in the MCU.

Who Plays Wong in the MCU?

Wong is portrayed by the actor Benedict Wong. He appeared as Wong in several Marvel films, namely; Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Tend Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and the upcoming film: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

He also provided the voice for an alternate version of Wong in a series called “What If…?.”

Who Plays Gilgamesh in the MCU?

Gilgamesh is portrayed by a South Korean-born American Actor named Ma Dong Seok, who professionally goes by Don Lee. For the MCU, who only appears as Gilgamesh in the Eternals Movie.

His role as Gilgamesh serves as his Hollywood debut, as all his previous roles were based in South Korea. He plays characters in movies such as The Neighbor, Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time, and the Unjust.

But he is known for his role in the critically acclaimed zombie film Train to Busan.

What Is the Difference Between Wong and Gilgamesh?

The two characters are vastly different in their origin, personality, abilities, and even their role in the universe.

Wong is the current Sorcerer Supreme of the Masters of the Mystics Arts led by Ancient One to protect the world from magical threats. He became Sorcerer Supreme when Doctor Strange got blipped in Avengers: Infinity War.

He remained as the Sorcerer Supreme even after the return of Doctor Strange. Wong appears in Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings as a freelance fighter in the Golden Dagger’s Club. Towards the end of the movie, he was able to detect the Ten Rings and would meet Shang-Chi and Katy Chen. He introduces the two to Bruce Banner and Carol Danver, informing them of their new path as heroes.

In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Wong also shows up to warn Doctor Strange about a spell that will solve Peter Parker’s problem. 

As a member of the Masters of Mystics Arts, he is proficient with all sorts of magic and weapons in battle. However, Wong is human and thus has the same limitations of one and ages like one.

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh is a genetically-engineered Eternal created by the Celestials. He was part of the team that came to Earth to fight the Deviants several years ago, even before most of the heroes in the MCU were born.     

At a certain point, he was exiled alongside Athena to protect and kill her if needed. He is known to be the kindest and strongest Eternal. In 2023 the other Eternals found him and Athena in Australia. After a conflict, the pair agreed to help their family look for Druig to stop the Emergence.

Gilgamesh eventually dies in the battle against Kro, as a result, he could not see his mission through. Due to his death, this may be his last appearance in the MCU.

As the strongest Eternal, Gilgamesh was granted Superhuman abilities such as strength, speed, and agility. In addition, his Cosmic Exoskeleton Manifestation allows him to project a golden cosmic-energy enhanced shield on his arms and fists; this greatly increases his strength and durability.

Gilgamesh is also immortal. His immortality allows him to live forever since he cannot die via old age or illnesses. However, his immortality does not save him from lethal wounds, as he was unable to heal himself while Kro took his energy.

While the two characters look alike due to their respective actors being Asian in Ethnicity, they are two completely different characters. Eternals may also be the last time we will see Gilgamesh. Meanwhile, Wong seems to be appearing in more Marvel films in the future.