Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will not have to “wait very long” to see a Southeast Asian superhero arrive on Disney Plus. While speaking at a press conference to announce the launch of the streaming service in Singapore, Feige made it clear that Marvel aims to represent different cultures within its universe.
When asked if it was “time we get a Southeast Asian Marvel superhero on Disney Plus” by one of the participants at the conference, Feige’s immediate response was, “I think it is. And I think you won’t have to wait there very long at all.” He also went on to state that there are already many more Marvel Studios shows in the works, apart from the ones that have already been announced thus far.
While no other details were provided, the news has come as a pleasant surprise for many MCU fans, especially since Phase Four of the MCU is already debuting the first Asian-led superhero movie, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, in July. The movie has a largely Asian star cast, with Simu Liu, of Kim's Convenience fame, taking the reigns as the Chinese-born superhero Shang Chi, who is also a part of a team of Asian superheroes, the Agents of Atlas. The movie also stars Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Ronny Chieng, and Tony Leung.
This only goes to show that the ongoing push for diversity at Marvel Studios is being taken seriously, a movement that began with 2018’s Black Panther, which consisted of an almost-entirely Black cast. The movie went on to become one of the highest-grossing MCU films at the box office. It received a lot of praise, from both fans and critics, and even won several awards. It was referred to as a cultural phenomenon, and while the movie marked the beginning of change in the MCU, King T'Challa and Wakanda seem to have become a legacy that inspired countless fans around the world. After the unexpected death of Chadwick Boseman, Feige stated that his character of Black Panther will not be recast. Filming on Black Panther 2 will commence in July, and the focus will be on the other characters introduced in the prequel.
In 2018, Feige had confirmed that Marvel’s focus was now to be inclusive. While Phase One of the MCU mainly focused on male superheroes, 2019’s The Avengers: Endgame brought together an entire group of female Avengers ready to battle together. The aim is for fans of the universe to feel seen and represented on the big screen.
Source: NME