Marvel, like everyone, had a subdued 2020, but the MCU is making 2021 one of their biggest years yet. Just around the corner is the release of Black Widow. This December Tom Holland makes a return as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Between the two of them, Marvel is releasing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The movie is one of the most exciting releases of the year. It will give fans their first real look at how Marvel plans to expand their horizons through Phase 4 of the MCU.
Shang-Chi represents the changing direction of the MCU in more ways than one. The film will feature Marvel's first Asian leading hero. Simu Liu will be portraying the movie's title character. Shang-Chi will revisit the Mandarin, a major comic book villain who Iron Man 3 played as a joke. The movie will also add a new genre to the MCU. Everyone is excited to see how Marvel combines their signature style with the feel of a classic kung-fu movie. Marvel's secret weapon on Shang-Chi sits behind the camera.
Who Is Shang-Chi?
Shang-Chi has a long history in Marvel comics. He first debuted in 1973's Special Marvel Edition #15. His first solo book began its run ten years later. Since then the character has woven his way in and out of various Marvel stories.
Shang-Chi was born in China and raised by his father, Wenwu (who was called, unfortunately, Fu Manchu in the early comics). Wenwu trained Shang-Chi in martial arts, particularly kung fu, raising his son to be a great warrior. Young Shang-Chi remained entirely unaware that his father was not a benevolent leader but a criminal mastermind. When Shang-Chi discovered his father's true identity, he swore to fight back against him and other villains.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will presumably follow that initial arc for the character. Based on what little is known about the film's plot, many suspect that Wenwu will be revealed as the true Mandarin. Marvel has already strayed from comic book canon, so anything is on the table at this point. Shang-Chi's director, Destin Daniel Crettin, plans on pairing the new film with a unique visual style unlike anything the MCU has seen before.
Camera Tricks
Marvel has made big, experimental leaps before. When The Guardians of the Galaxy first came out, few knew how the film would fit alongside other MCU entries. If Marvel has proven anything over the years, it's that they know exactly who to involve in a project to guarantee its success. To help sell a new character and new genre, Marvel has a secret weapon behind the camera: the aesthetic eye of Bill Pope.
Bill Pope has been hired to work as Shang-Chi's cinematographer. Even those who don't know who Bill Pope is are likely fans of his work. He's been working as a cinematographer for over thirty years, and he's had a hand in some of the best-looking films of all time. His first cinematography job was on Darkman, directed by Sam Raimi. The two worked together again through Marvel's first Spider-Man trilogy.
The most stunning visual work Bill Pope has done can be seen in The Matrix. He worked with the Wachowskis on all three Matrix films. He won't be returning for Matrix 4, partly because shooting the Matrix sequels was a miserable experience for him. The Wachowskis' loss is the MCU's gain.
More recently, Pope also worked on Scott Pilgrim vs the World and Alita: Battle Angel. So he not only has Marvel experience, but comic book movie experience in general. Pope could bring a wealth of new ideas to the MCU with his camera work on Shang-Chi. Between Pope's eye and the new film's focus on kung-fu, it's all but guaranteed the action in Shang-Chi will be some of the best Marvel has to offer.
New Directions
The first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings offered an initial look at Bill Pope's visuals on the new film. Every frame is filled with promise. There's not much in the way of cohesive shots, but the trailer gives a general sense of the visual aesthetic for the film. It also hints at some of the coolest hand-to-hand action sequences yet seen in the MCU. What else could fans expect from a Matrix alum?
Marvel seems dedicated to adding diversity in all forms to the MCU. That dedication is part of why Marvel is focusing on expanding its Disney Plus offerings. It's why Shang-Chi has such a diverse cast, and why Marvel is bringing on new talent behind the camera. All of this can only bring good things to the MCU. The more voices the universe contains, the more viewers it will attract. That will keep Marvel rolling through Phase 4, 5, and beyond.