Shang-Chi Reveals Doctor Strange Wong Cameo (Setting Up Multiverse Of Madness?)

The new Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings trailer features a cameo from Wong, potentially teasing a set-up for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With theaters starting to open up, Marvel Studios is gearing to release their movie slate starting with Cate Shortland and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. After that, Destin Cretton's first MCU entry will premiere, introducing the MCU's newest hero — Shang-Chi.

Starring Simu Liu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be the first Marvel Studios project with a predominantly Asian cast. Aside from debuting its titular character, the project will also unveil the real Mandarin following the fake-out with regards to the character in Shane Black's Iron Man 3. That reveal was met with a divisive response, prompting them to release the Marvel One-Shot, All Hail The King, which confirmed that the real Mandarin does exist. Aside from the two main characters, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will feature mostly new MCU players including Akwafina's Katy and Michelle Yeoh's Jiang Nian. But given Marvel Studios' penchant for highlighting its interconnected storytelling, the movie will also feature some familiar faces, including Wong.

In the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings trailer’s final shot, Wong can be seen fighting Abomination from The Incredible Hulk, in what appears to be an underground cage fight. While the clip didn't reveal a close-up shot of Wong, his magic trick and overall demeanor fit that of Doctor Strange's trusted second-hand. It's also worth noting that Benedict Wong was spotted hanging out with Liu in Australia back in September 2020, around the same time that production for the movie was ongoing. Considering how difficult international travel was at that time as it was the height of the coronavirus pandemic, chances are slim that it was just a random get-together for the Marvel Studios actors. This further backs up the idea that Wong is indeed in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

So, assuming that Wong is actually involved in the upcoming MCU movie, what does it mean for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? The character is confirmed for Sam Raimi's first Marvel Studios endeavor, which will see the future Sorcerer Supreme go on a brand new adventure. Since the franchise thrives with its interconnected narratives, it's not outside the realm of possibility that, somehow, what happens in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings contributes to Doctor Strange's upcoming multiverse outing. Perhaps, Wong is in the hunt for someone and it leads him to the underground tournament that Shang-Chi was also in; maybe he was tracking down Mordo, who, by the end of Doctor Strange, became disillusioned and went on his own way, snatching other people's mystical powers.

Another potential connection lies with the actual Ten Rings. As a team, the Masters of the Mystic Arts has been in existence for thousands of years, and they possess some of the oldest and most powerful artifacts. There's a possibility that they caught wind of the existence of the Ten Rings, and knowing what they can do, they took it upon themselves to acquire them so that they can't be used for the wrong reasons. It's an interesting notion that could mean that Wong might be more involved in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings than initially perceived. Whether his appearance in the aforementioned movie is purely just for a cameo or not, it won't be long anyway for him to appear on the big screen via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

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