You know that feeling when you're watching a massive blockbuster and a random guy on screen feels weirdly familiar? Like, you've definitely seen him before, but you can't quite place the face under the beard. That's the Zach Cherry Shang-Chi experience in a nutshell.
Most people know Zach Cherry now as Dylan, the waffle-loving, "Milf"-obsessed office worker from the trippy Apple TV+ hit Severance. He’s brilliant in it. Honestly, he’s one of those actors who just makes everything better the second he walks into frame. But long before he was navigating the severed floors of Lumon Industries, he was quietly becoming one of the most consistent—and hilarious—connective tissues in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Who is Klev? The Bus Passenger with an Attitude
In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we get one of the best action sequences in recent superhero history: the bus fight. Simu Liu is doing incredible stunt work, throwing kicks and using his jacket as a weapon while a massive guy with a machete arm tries to slice him in half.
Amidst all that chaos, the camera cuts to a guy sitting there, completely unbothered, filming the whole thing on his phone. That’s Klev, played by Zach Cherry.
Klev isn't just a random extra. He’s a vibe. While everyone else is screaming for their lives, he’s livestreaming to his followers, giving a play-by-play commentary like he’s watching a Sunday afternoon football game. He even mentions that he took a few martial arts classes as a kid, so he basically considers himself an expert on Shang-Chi’s technique. It’s that specific brand of "internet guy" energy that Cherry nails every single time.
Wait, Have We Seen This Guy Before?
Here is the part that blows most people's minds: Klev is a recurring character.
If you go back to 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, there’s a quick scene where Peter Parker is doing "neighborhood" hero stuff. He stops by a street food vendor in Queens. A guy in the background yells out the now-iconic line: "Hey, do a flip!" That’s him. That’s Zach Cherry.
For years, fans just assumed he was a "Street Vendor" (as he was credited). But when he showed up in San Francisco on that bus in Shang-Chi, Marvel confirmed it’s the same guy. His name is Klev. Apparently, between the events of Homecoming and Shang-Chi, Klev moved from New York to the Bay Area. Maybe he got tired of the high rent? Or maybe he just wanted to follow the superheroes.
Either way, it makes him one of the few "normal" people in the MCU with a multi-movie character arc. He went from a hot dog enthusiast in Queens to a burgeoning vlog star in San Francisco.
The "New Stan Lee" Theory
There was a period in 2021 and 2022 where Reddit was convinced Zach Cherry was being positioned as the new Stan Lee.
Obviously, nobody can actually replace Stan. But the idea of having a "regular guy" who pops up in different cities just to comment on how weird superhero fights are is genius. It grounds the universe. It reminds us that while Thor is fighting gods in space, there’s some guy in a hoodie nearby just trying to get enough bars of service to upload a TikTok.
Klev represents us. He’s the audience.
Why Zach Cherry Is Everywhere Right Now
It's funny looking back at the Zach Cherry Shang-Chi cameo now because his career has absolutely exploded since 2021.
- Severance: He earned an Emmy nomination in 2025 for playing Dylan George. If you haven't seen the "MDR" team's antics, you're missing out on the best sci-fi drama of the decade.
- Fallout: He popped up as Woody Thomas in the Fallout series on Amazon, proving he can handle big-budget genre stuff just as well as indie comedies.
- Voice Acting: He’s even returning to the MCU—sort of. He voiced Klev in the 2025 animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, bringing the "do a flip" energy full circle.
He has this "everyman" quality that is impossible to fake. He looks like your cousin, or your IT guy, or the dude who knows way too much about craft beer. But his timing? That’s world-class.
What This Means for Shang-Chi 2
There’s been a lot of talk about the Shang-Chi sequel. With Destin Daniel Cretton busy with other Marvel projects, things have moved a bit slower than fans wanted. But when we finally get back to Shang-Chi’s world, I’d bet money we see Klev again.
Maybe he’s a full-blown influencer now. Maybe he’s moved to New Asgard. Whatever it is, the Zach Cherry Shang-Chi connection is one of those small details that makes the MCU feel like a living, breathing world instead of just a series of green-screen rooms.
Real Insights for Marvel Fans
If you want to spot every Zach Cherry appearance or follow the "Klev" trail, here is how you do it:
- Re-watch the Bus Scene: Don't just watch the fighting. Watch Klev’s face in the background. His "critiques" of the martial arts are actually scripted jokes that reflect how people talk on social media today.
- The Spider-Man Connection: Go back to Homecoming and look for the "Street Vendor." It’s a 10-second role, but it’s the origin story of the MCU’s funniest bystander.
- Check out Severance: If you liked his snarky energy in the MCU, Severance is where he gets to show his actual acting range. It’s a darker, weirder version of the "bored office guy" persona.
- Follow the Animated Series: If you have Disney+, look for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Hearing him voice the character in an alternate-universe setting is a great Easter egg for hardcore fans.
Next time you’re watching a Marvel movie and see a guy filming the action on a cracked iPhone, look closely. It might just be Klev, waiting for someone to finally do a flip.
