Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness revolves around Doctor Stephen Strange who casts a spell that opens the portal to the multiverse, releasing a threat he may not be able to contain. The film contains the presence of alternate universes and therefore variants of our favorite characters. In Multiverse of Madness, a number of cameos appear on-screen. From the appearance of Captain Carter AKA Peggy Carter to the introduction of Reed Richards, portrayed by John Krasinski, there are a plethora of heroes with new identities. One of defining characters of Doctor Strange 2 is Wong as Sorcerer Supreme.

This may seem a stretch to some long-time Doctor Strange fans, but most MCU fans were jumping for joy when they saw Wong as Sorcerer Supreme. One of the most powerful characters in the Doctor Strange franchise, Wong is beloved by many, and seeing him take on the role of Sorcerer Supreme makes many fans happy. Wong is often overlooked and overshadowed by Stephen’s arrogance, but Wong is just a better person than Stephen. Here’s how Wong proves himself to be more worthy of Sorcerer Supreme than Stephen.

Better Character Than Stephen

As powerful as Stephen Strange is, his personality is not what you would expect. He’s arrogant and shows off his skills, which is the last thing you would expect to see out of Sorcerer Supreme. Stephen wishes to know as much as he can and his arrogance makes him believe that he can master any spell, no matter how dangerous. Wong, on the other hand, takes cautious action, going so far as to read the entire book of magic before even trying to use any spells within. Wong also manages to have a great sense of humility and uses his powers wisely, unlike Stephen who uses the identity spell of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which wreaks havoc on the Multiverse.

Related: Why Doctor Strange's Wong Should Get His Own MCU Project

More Experienced

While Strange has a skilled hand in magic, he does not have as much practical experience as Wong. Wong has trained a lot longer at Kamar-Taj, being trained by the Ancient One for years, practicing in the use of mystical relics that the Masters have used as weapons. Stephen never had the time or the opportunity to learn to use any of the relics. While the films have not gone into details, per Screen Rant, comics have confirmed that Wong even conducted a number of field missions for the Masters of the Mystic Arts, suggesting that he has had a great deal more experience than Stephen Strange in the practical use of magic rather than merely perfecting the spells. While Stephen’s encounter with Dormammu in the Dark Dimension increased Stephen’s level of experience, his level of experience is still not comparable to Wong’s.

Strong Liaison

In Multiverse of Madness, Wong brought new meaning to the role of Sorcerer Supreme. As seen in Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings, Earth’s most experienced heroes are liaising together in a secretive team that Wong is a part of. Wong’s personality is far more suited to serving as a liaison with other heroes. His humility makes him able to acknowledge when he is wrong and learn from his mistakes. These qualities make Wong much more of a people-person than Stephen Strange, who would feel the need to prove himself superior to everyone he encounters on a liaison. Wong proves himself more worthy of the title of Sorcerer Supreme as he makes it more than just being a powerful Sorcerer, but also an important figure that must serve as a role model to those around him.

Related: Doctor Strange 2: Why Wong is One of the MCU's Best Supporting Characters

Avoids Racial Tropes

Giving Wong the role of Sorcerer Supreme provides more versatility within the Doctor Strange MCU franchise and avoids past mistakes as seen with the casting of the Ancient One. The Ancient One’s original identity was meant to be that of an Asian man and Marvel both race- and gender-swapped the character, essentially whitewashing the character. Per Deadline, officials like Kevin Feige have admitted that the casting was a mistake and that they have learned from it. That said, the problematic appropriation here goes much deeper into the entire story of Doctor Strange itself. The basic plot of Doctor Strange revolves around a white man who travels to another culture, mastering its secrets and magic in order to become the best, a classic story of cultural appropriation. The idea of Wong being Sorcerer Supreme is less problematic as a whole, allowing someone from within the culture to master the sorcery.