After a long period of no new MCU projects, 2021 is packed with new movies and shows from the ever-growing cinematic universe as it moves into Phase 4. While big-name heroes like Spider-Man and Black Widow have movies this year, there are also some new and exciting faces joining the franchise. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is one of those exciting new projects that will introduce the MCU's first Asian leading hero. The movie was one of the many big titles that were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with its release finally on the horizon, now is a good time to look at everything we know about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
While he might not be as well-known as heroes like Captain America and Iron Man, Shang-Chi does have a long career in Marvel Comics. The character first debuted back in 1973 and eventually got his own solo title in 1983. The character was born in China as the son of the villainous Fu Manchu and raised thinking his father was a benevolent leader. Shang-Chi was trained in various fighting styles, becoming a skilled warrior, and is often named as one of the best fighters in the Marvel universe. After Shang-Chi discovered the true nature of his father, he sought to fight him and other evil-doers.
Simu Liu As Shang-Chi
In casting the role of Shang-Chi, Marvel chose relative newcomer Simu Liu. This Chinese-Canadian actor is best-known for his role on the Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience. The casting was first announced during Marvel's presentation at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con days after being officially cast. Since then, Liu has been a vocal voice on social media about joining the MCU and his excitement for the movie.
The Real Mandarin Reveals Himself
In the comics, the Mandarin was primarily an Iron Man villain but was seen as a high-status supervillain in the overall Marvel universe. He is a brilliant scientist who is always concocting plans for world domination. He is also a skilled martial artist and possesses 10 alien rings each of which grants him a special power.
The MCU began teasing the character all the way back in their first-ever movie, Iron Man. The terrorist organization that captures Tony Stark was known as the Ten Rings and it was alluded to that the Mandarin was pulling the strings behind the scenes. The character was used again in a controversial way in Iron Man 3 as the supposed main villain only for him to be revealed as an actor playing the part of the terrorist. The short Marvel One-Shot, All Hail the King, revealed that there was indeed a real Mandarin out there and it was confirmed he would make his debut in Shang-Chi.
Chinese actor Tony Leung will be taking on the role with rumors that Mandarin will take the place of Fu Manchu in the comics and be revealed as Shang-Chi's villainous father. Interestingly, during Marvel's presentation at the Disney Investor's Day 2020, Leung's character was identified as Wenwu, perhaps indicating the movie will be distancing the character from the problematic Mandarin title.
Supporting Cast
During the Comic-Con presentation in which Liu and Leung were announced as joining the cast, Kevin Feige also confirmed the casting of multi-talented star Awkwafina in an undisclosed role. It was later confirmed that she would be playing a character named Katy who is said to be a friend of Shang-Chi. Awkwafina described the character as someone who is thrust into this world she doesn't understand and manages to grow as a person.
It was also confirmed that Michelle Yeoh would be joining the cast as a character named Jiang Nan. While Yeoh appeared in a cameo at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Aleta Ogord, it was confirmed that this would be a separate character entirely. Other actors who have been confirmed as part of the cast include Fala Chen as Jiang Li, Meng'er Zhang as Xialing, Ronny Chieng as Jon Jon, and Florian Munteanu as Razor Fist.
Filmmakers And Plot
Following the success of Black Panther, Marvel had hoped Shang-Chi would be another ground-breaking achievement in representation, looking for a largely Asian cast and crew for the movie. After hiring David Callaham as the screenwriter for the movie, they sought out an Asian director, eventually selecting Destin Daniel Cretton. Following Marvel's recent trend of hiring up-and-coming filmmakers for their projects, Cretton was mostly known for smaller and acclaimed dramas like Short Term 12 and Just Mercy.
As with most upcoming Marvel movies, the film is shrouded in secrecy with very few details revealed about the plot. What is known is that it will involve Shang-Chi being drawn into the world of the Ten Rings while also having to confront his past. This further alludes to the idea that Shang-Chi's father will be the villain of the story. Feige has also highlighted the role the Ten Rings have played in various MCU movies suggesting this movie will reveal how the Mandarin and his organization have been manipulating certain events. Cretton has also spoken about wanting to use the story to subvert certain tropes and stereotypes related to the Asian community. There has also been much discussion about how the comic book depictions of both Shang-Chi and the Mandarin have been overtly racist in the past and how this movie can address that.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to hit theaters on September 3, 2021.