During the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con it was revealed that Canadian actor Simu Liu (Blood and Water, Taken) will headline the Shang-Chi movie as the title character. The film will officially be ttitled Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with the cast also including Tony Leung as The Mandarin (the REAL Mandarin) with Awkwafina in an unannounced role.
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Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984, Zombieland 2, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse 2) wrote the script and Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) is attached to direct the project. Marvel’s goal with the film is to introduce a hero who blends Asian and Asian American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian American filmmakers.
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Shang-Chi, also known as The Master of Kung Fu, was first introduced in the pages of Special Marvel Edition #15 back in 1973 after they’d failed to obtain the rights to the then-popular TV series Kung Fu, which starred David Carradine. A master of fighting, Shang-Chi eventually gains the ability to create an infinite amount of replicas of himself. After Special Marvel Edition changed its name to The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, the character went on to appear in issues of Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One. He’s also been a member of The Avengers and Heroes for Hire, the latter alongside fellow kung fu masters Daughters of the Dragon.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
