Concept art for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has revealed that Wong was originally going to die in Phase 4’s multiverse adventure.

New concept art for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has revealed that Wong was originally supposed to die, which would have had a huge effect on the MCU. Benedict Wong reprised his role of Wong from Doctor Strange in Multiverse of Madness, a Phase 4 project which saw Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) travel to alternate realities in their battle against the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). In the wake of WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch fully embraced her darker side in Multiverse of Madness, which almost led to the tragic loss of some beloved characters.

Since his debut in the MCU’s Phase 3, Wong has become a fan-favorite character, which unfortunately put his head on the chopping block in Multiverse of Madness as the Scarlet Witch wreaked havoc across the multiverse. While Wong did survive the film in the theatrical cut, new concept art by Rob Bliss (shared by Scarlet Witch News on Twitter) revealed that Wong was originally supposed to die in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Wong would have joined Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who would have also met his demise at the hands of the Scarlet Witch, but Wong’s death would have had a far greater impact on the MCU.

Killing Wong Would’ve Likely Meant Doctor Strange Became Sorcerer Supreme

After the Ancient One’s death in Doctor Strange, the position of Sorcerer Supreme was left vacant, and many assumed that Doctor Strange himself would have been promoted into the role. However, despite becoming Master of the New York Sanctum, Strange wasn’t anointed Sorcerer Supreme before the events of Avengers: Infinity War, which saw Strange snapped away in Thanos’ attack. Spider-Man: No Way Home revealed that Wong had become Sorcerer Supreme during the five-year Blip, so his subsequent death in Multiverse of Madness (if this was the main continuity’s variant of Wong) would have once again left the position empty, perhaps allowing Strange to claim the mantle.

Wong’s Doctor Strange 2 Death Would’ve Wasted A Key Supporting Character

Despite being directly connected to Doctor Strange and the Masters of the Mystic Arts, Wong has been featured in several other Marvel Studios projects as a supporting character. His appearances during projects such as Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law have cemented Wong as one of the most popular and sought-after side characters in the MCU. His death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have negated his hilarious role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which saw Wong help Abomination break out of prison and form an unlikely partnership with Madisynn.

Following on from his brilliant supporting appearances in the MCU’s Phase 4, there have been calls for Wong to receive his own Disney+ series in the MCU. It’s also very likely that the character will be popping up throughout Phases 5 and 6 and will surely have a part to play in the Multiverse Saga’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, as Wong is one of the most powerful sorcerers currently in the MCU. Wong’s death at the hands of the Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have eliminated these opportunities, and the MCU would have been worse off for it.