Every major hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes with a crew of allies that are integral to their solo outings and would be sorely missed by their fans. Some of these secondary characters stick to their universe while others maintain a presence in team-ups, but only one seems to have become a franchise mainstay.
There are, arguably, far too manycharacters in the MCUright now, and it’s easy to completely forget the occasional familiar face. While some get solo projects by the handful, others have to make do somewhere in the supporting cast. The supporting cast of a superhero film is often a thankless position, if not one that draws active distaste, but some fan favorites emerge.
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Wong isintroduced in 2016’sDoctor Strange, as one of many Masters of the Mystic Arts that the eponymous sorcerer meets at Kamar-Taj. The character wasn’t originally included in early drafts of the script because the Marvel Comics iteration is a terribly outdated stereotype. The source material depicts Wong as a manservant who serves Strange tea and has next to no impact on the narrative. However, the film was already in a bit of hot water for castingwhite woman Tilda Swintonin the traditionally Asian role of The Ancient One. For a heavily Asian-inspired story, the original comics featured very few Asian characters. As a result, director and co-writer Scott Derrickson sought to rework Wong as a better example of representation. The result was a far better-written character who flipped most of the stereotypes on their head and swiftly became a fan favorite.
Wong is the guardian of Kamar-Taj’s expansive library of legendary tomes and artifacts and one of the most skilled practitioners of magic. Strange and Wong have a fun energy, the former attempting to make small talk while the latter maintains unbreakable focus. Later scenes see Wong familiarizing himself with modern pop culture, then he joins Strange in the battleagainst the film’s villain.
Wong dies in combat but is resurrected by Strange, forging deep respect and blooming friendship with his former pupil. Wong is Strange’s trusted ally inInfinity Warand wins the great cosmic coin toss that is Thanos' first snap. Strange does not win that 50/50 chance, so Wong becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, a key role that he accepts with aplomb. After the great resurrection inEndgame, it’s Wong who brings forth thearmy to defeat Thanosfrom all corners of the universe. His overall screen time in the first few phases of the MCU is fairly limited, but in those sparse moments, he takes part in some of the biggest actions in the franchise. But, his impact doesn’t end there.
After the long build-up and battle against Thanos ended, Wong has only become more common. He has popped up in MCU projects that would logically have nothing to do with Kamar-Taj or the character he seems to have spun off from. He’s expanded beyond theDoctor Strangefilms and beyond Strange himself, becoming a general MCU side character. He appeared first inShang-Chi, doingbattle with the Abominationin an underground fighting ring. The narrative purpose of this scene is limited, mostly just setting up the tournament and establishing the larger effect of superhero ubiquity in the cage-fighting world. Wong later debriefs Shang-Chi and Katy with a group of peers and joins them for a charming round of karaoke. Wong also appears inSpider-Man: No Way Home, offering a warning to his friend before the plot gets going. He serves as a mentor to Strange again here but is ignored. His roles in these films are interesting because they aren’t necessary. Wong has become an all-purpose fixture of the MCU.
Of course, Wong plays a huge role inMultiverse of Madness, but that won’t be his last appearance. He’s already been announced as an important character in the upcomingShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law. There’s noreason She-Hulk’s introductionshould have anything to do with Kamar-Taj or the Mystic Arts, yet Wong has been confirmed to appear already. As Sorcerer Supreme, Wong will remain a tremendous part of the MCU’s overall narrative. He’s crucial thanks to his rank and role, but that’s not the only reason he keeps popping up. He’s big enough to escape cameo, interesting enough to appear outside where he’s expected, and beloved enough to be teased as a selling point. There must be some reason beyond plot importance that keeps Wong coming back to almost every MCU project.
The secretis probably Benedict Wong, the actor chosen to portray the character. Fans seem to love this character, one that was once a dull stereotype and a reminder of a more unpleasant age. Thanks to a new take and a stellar casting choice, Wong has become the universe-hopping fixed point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wong is everywhere and nobody is complaining, in fact, they want more. Let this once-minor character continue to outgrow his start and become as important and iconic to the MCU as Steve or Tony. He’s earned it.
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