After the decade-long build up to AVENGERS: ENDGAME, Marvel Studios has made no secrets about wanting to get creative with their next phase of films, which I guess technically started with the BLACK WIDOW prequel movie. But it’s safe to say the more daring and exciting entry is SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, and today we get to see a new look at this comic book adaptation. Moving away from traditional superhero lore, the events of this production follow Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a man who mastered martial arts at a young age, only to walk away from his training for a decade and live a somewhat carefree life, but like the voiceover in the trailer says, “You can’t outrun who you really are.” The movie also retcons the character of The Mandarin from the comics. In IRON MAN 3, The Mandarin was revealed to be an actor named Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) who was only pretending to be a sinister villain. In SHANG-CHI, The Mandarin is played much more like the comics counterpart, and by stellar actor Tony Leung. And yes, that is rapper Awkwafina playing Shang-Chi’s best friend, hot off her memorable performances in CRAZY RICH ASIANS and THE FAREWELL. This is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (SHORT TERM 12), produced by Kevin Feige (of course) and Jonathan Schwartz, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Charles Newirth are executive producing. David Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew Lanham wrote the screenplay for the film. Check out the new “Destiny” featurette below and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.