<Li> Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange: A neurosurgeon who, after a car accident that led to a journey of healing, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions . Cumberbatch described Strange as arrogant, with the film "about him going from a place where he thinks he knows it all to realizing he knows nothing ." He compared the character to the version of Sherlock Holmes that he portrays in Sherlock, calling both characters "intelligent" and having "smatterings of the same colors". The film's mysticism resonated with Cumberbatch, for whom spirituality has been important since he spent his gap year teaching English at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Darjeeling, India . Strange's abilities in the film include casting spells with "tongue - twisty fun names", creating mandalas of light for shields and weapons, and creating portals for quick travel around the world . Strange is also aided by a Cloak of Levitation for flight, and the Eye of Agamotto, a relic containing an Infinity Stone that can manipulate time . Cumberbatch took great care in defining the physical movements and gestures for the spells, knowing that they would be noted and studied by fans . He described these gestures as "balletic" and "very dynamic", and received help with finger - tutting movements from dancer JayFunk . </Li> <Li> Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo: A Master of the Mystic Arts, close to the Ancient One and a mentor to Strange . This version of Mordo is a combination of different characters from the Doctor Strange mythos, and unlike in the comics is not introduced as villainous . Ejiofor noted this, calling Mordo "a very complex character that, really, I don't think can be nailed down either way". Director Scott Derrickson added that the change in character stemmed from casting Ejiofor and conversations the director had with him . Ejiofor described Mordo's relationship with the Ancient One as "long and intense", while noting a "growing respect" between the character and Strange, until "things get complicated". Derrickson felt Mordo was a fundamentalist, saying "When someone gives themselves over to an extraordinarily strict moral code, the process of breaking out of that is a violent one . He becomes disillusioned with the Ancient One's (moral contradictions). The difference is Strange can accept that contradiction . Mordo cannot cope with it," which leads to the "antagonism between Mordo and Strange" to explore in future films . Discussing the diversity of the film's cast when addressing the controversial casting of the characters the Ancient One and Wong, Derrickson was confident that the decision to cast Ejiofor as Mordo, and thus changing the character "from white to black", was the right one to make . </Li> <Li> Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer: An emergency surgeon, initially written as a love interest for Strange, but shortly before filming Derrickson suggested that this trope be subverted by making the two characters lovers as part of their backstory, and coming "out the other side of it as friends". McAdams described this dynamic by saying, "The love is between them no matter what stage they're at in the actual relationship ." With this change in characterization, producer Kevin Feige described Palmer as a "lynchpin to (Strange's) old life, once he steps into the role of a sorcerer . She is someone he connects with at the beginning, and reconnects with, and helps anchor his humanity ." He explained that having this character be a "connection to Strange's life in New York City, in the normal world" after his journey was important to the studio, which is why Palmer was chosen for the character over the more prominent, but more fantastical character Clea . Palmer is also known as the hero Night Nurse in the comics, a storyline that does not play into the film, but that Feige hinted could be explored in future films . Rosario Dawson portrays another Night Nurse character, Claire Temple, in Marvel's Netflix television series . </Li> <Li> Benedict Wong as Wong: A Master of the Mystic Arts, tasked with protecting some of Kamar - Taj's most valuable relics and books . The character is depicted in the comics as Strange's Asian, "tea - making manservant", a racial stereotype that Derrickson did not want in the film, and so the character was not included in the film's script . After the non-Asian actress Tilda Swinton was cast as the other significant Asian character from the Doctor Strange comics, the Ancient One--which was also done to avoid the comics' racial stereotypes--Derrickson felt obligated to find a way to include Wong in the film . The character as he ultimately appears is "completely subverted as a character and reworked into something that didn't fall into any of the stereotypes of the comics", which Derrickson was pleased gave an Asian character "a strong presence in the movie". Actor Wong was also pleased with the changes made to the character, and described him as "a drill sergeant to Kamar - Taj" rather than a manservant . He does not practice martial arts in the film, avoiding another racial stereotype . Derrickson added that Wong will have "a strong presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe" moving forward . </Li>

Who plays the female doctor in doctor strange