WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings, now in theaters.
Shang-Chi (Simi Liu) is the lead of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but the film delves into plenty of other major new figures for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, setting the stage for a new corner of the world. One of the best ways the film ties into the greater universe is with the use of Wong (Benedict Wong), who appears twice in the film to great effect. Shang-Chi helps cement Wong as the new Coulson for Phase Four of the MCU, which comes with the benefit of increased prominence in the films, along with the additional risk of being targeted and killed down the line.
In Phase Once of the MCU, much of the connective tissue between seemingly disapparate corners of the universe like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor was the existence of S.H.I.E.L.D. The organization tasked with protecting the world from unknown and known threats was largely personified by Phil Coulson, a seemingly unflappable everyman who befriended Pepper Potts and Tony Stark, encountered Thor and was revealed to be a massive fan of Captain America. A dedicated agent and a consistent ally to Nick Fury, he was heavily featured in The Avengers, and his apparent death at the hands of Loki helped inspire the team to fully come together as a unit and fight to avenge those who'd fallen.
In many ways, Wong has taken his place as the frequent everyman who appears across the MCU. Wong was introduced in Doctor Strange as the librarian in the mystical city of Kamar-Taj, working alongside the Ancient One and Baron Mordo as advisors and guides to Stephen Strange. When Strange ascended to the role of Sorceror Supreme, he remained by his side as an ally and advisor. Wong is featured in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame as a crucial ally for the heroes of Earth, saving the life of Iron Man mid-battle and rallying an army with the use of magic to bring forward in time to stand opposed to Thanos and his forces.
Now, he fills a similar role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, appearing as connective tissue between characters and films. He appears in a brawl with Abomination during a brief visit to Xialing's (Meng'er Zhang) fight club, defeating the Hulk villain but offering him some friendly tips before teleporting him back home. Later, he's seen recruiting Shang-Chi and his friend Katy (Awkwafina) for a meeting with Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to discuss the Ten Rings. Afterward, he even displays his friendly demeanor by joining the pair for a night of drinks and karaoke, cutting loose and enjoying the world they saved.
It's a fitting place for Wong, who has proven to be a skillful but relatable figure in the MCU. He's got enough power to hold his own in a fight but isn't so powerful that he can solve everything on his own. He serves as a friendly face the heroes can rely on for support or a joke, and can help bind the more unique corners of the film closer together. But with this increased prominence comes the increased risk that he'll eventually suffer a fate similar to Coulson -- seemingly dying at the hands of a major villain, with his demise helping unite any fighting factions to avenge him. There's no one better suited to be such a friendly face for the entire MCU in the films right now, but it also puts a massive target on the back of the powerful mystical warrior.
To see how Wong is becoming the MCU's new Coulson, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters now.