Late last week, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be a theatrical exclusive. Additionally, Chapek said that the film is “an interesting experiment for us because it’s got only a 45-day window.” This means that Shang-Chi will come to Disney+ 45 days after its theatrical release. Chapek also indicated that the Marvel movie was a “data point” that would help the studio plan for future releases.
However, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu was unhappy with his film being characterized as an “experiment.” He shared his response on Twitter, which you can see below.
We are not an experiment.
We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers, We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.
We are the surprise.
I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US. pic.twitter.com/IcyFzh0KIb
— Simu Liu (刘思慕) (@SimuLiu) August 14, 2021
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Regardless, it’s unclear if Shang-Chi will be able to overcome the current box office environment. Last weekend, The Suicide Squad opened to an anemic $26 million, and it fell to $7 million this weekend. The key difference between The Suicide Squad and Shang-Chi is that the former was streaming day and date with its theatrical release. It remains to be seen if Shang-Chi‘s theatrical only release will give it better results.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on Friday, September 3.
What do you think about about Simu Liu’s response to Bob Chapek? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 2
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