There’s a three-year-old mystery fromShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsthat I’m shocked Marvel Studios still hasn’t addressed in theMCU. 2021’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsbecame one of my favorite Phase 4 projects by bringing Simu Liu’s titular master of martial arts, Shang-Chi, into the MCU. I loved exploring the history of the Ten Rings, a global terrorist organization led by Tony Leung’s Xu Wenwu that has been an ever-present threat in the MCU since 2008’sIron Man.
The Ten Rings borrowed their name fromWenwu’s ten mysterious and powerful bracelets, which gifted him incredible strength and immortality. I assume Wenwu’s ten bracelets now gift Shang-Chi these powers, as Wenwu sacrificed the rings to his son in the seconds before the Dweller-in-Darkness consumed his soul.Since they have only appeared in one MCU project, there’s still a great deal that we don’t know about the ten rings, including one huge mystery that was created inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’mid-credits scene.
Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings Beacon Hasn’t Been Mentioned In 3 Years
Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings' Mid-Credits Scene Revealed The Rings Are Sending A Beacon
After succeeding in defeating the Dweller-in-Darkness in Ta Lo, Shang-Chi and Awkwafina’s Katy returned to San Francisco, where they were met by the MCU’s Sorcerer Supreme, Benedict Wong’s Wong. InShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’mid-credits scene, we saw Wong introduceShang-Chi and Katyto Avengers Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, all of whom had gathered to investigate a strange beacon being sent out by the ten rings. Three years later,we still have no idea who this beacon was signaling.
The true origins of the ten rings in the MCU have not been addressed, though they are said to be well over a thousand years old, with both Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers being confused about their true roots.
In Marvel Comics, the ten rings were found in a crashed Makluan spaceship on Earth, though we haven’t been told whether this is also the case in the MCU. It’s possible the beacon could have been signaling the Makluans, who are a race of dragon-like reptilians in Marvel Comics, though it seems more likely the beacon will connect to someone already important to the MCU.I’m concerned that it’s now been so long since the beacon was addressed that it’s become insignificant, and Marvel Studios may have already removed the perfect chance to explain this unknown signal.
Marvel Studios May Have Removed The Perfect Explanation For Shang-Chi’s Beacon
Speculation Hinted At The Beacon Connecting To Kang
AfterShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsintroduced the ten rings' beacon to the MCU, there was a huge amount of speculation suggesting thatthis beacon could have been signaling a variant of Kang the Conqueror. The MCU saw huge changes in 2023 as the future of Kang, who was set up as the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, was thrown into jeopardy.Jonathan Majors' arrest and convictionshocked us, and made us think that Kang would either be recast or removed from the MCU, with the latter turning out to be true.
The MCU’s Ten Rings Come From Kang - Shang-Chi Theory Explained
The origin of the Ten Rings in Shang-Chi are shrouded in mystery, but they seem to be tied to another reality, and might have belonged to Kang.
I enjoyed seeing theories that relics such as the ten rings, Ms. Marvel’s Quantum Bands and others could have connections to Kangand his villainous variants from across the multiverse. This seems incredibly unlikely now that Marvel Studios has changedAvengers: The Kang DynastyintoAvengers: Doomsday, and castRobert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doomahead of his appearance in the MCU’s Phase 6. Marvel moving away from Kang makes me think the beacon will either be altered or ignored, which I consider a real shame.
Spider-Man 4’s Exciting Update Has Me Worried About Shang-Chi’s MCU Future
Destin Daniel Cretton Is Directing Spider-Man 4
Since the ten rings' beacon seems less and less likely to be addressed inAvengers: Doomsdayafter its changes,I reckonShang-Chi 2would be the next best place to explore this mystery. However, I now suspect it’ll be even longer before we see the sequel toShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as Destin Daniel Cretton has recently been hired to direct theMCU’s upcomingSpider-Man 4, with production beginning soon. This spells very good news forSpider-Man 4, but not for this huge Shang-Chi question, which will now be even more difficult to answer.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Cast
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: This film introduces Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Confronted by his past, he becomes entangled with the mysterious Ten Rings organization, which challenges his identity and abilities. Released in 2021, the movie explores themes of family and legacy.
