Summary
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsintroduced a new beloved hero into theMarvel Cinematic Universe, but the treatment of his character ever since has been frustrating and disappointing. Canadian actor Simu Liu was immediately thrust into stardom after being cast in the role, and following theending ofShang-Chi,audiences have waited patiently to see how this character is integrated into the Avengers. Three years have passed since Shang-Chi met Captain Marvel, and no concrete news of a sequel has yet been announced. The return of Shang-Chi has finally been confirmed, although in a slightly underwhelming way.
Upon release, it seemed thatShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringswas going to be important to the MCU. Following its success, director Destin Daniel Cretton was quickly recruited to helmAvengers: The Kang Dynasty. Whileeverything known aboutAvengers 5has changed since, including the title toAvengers: Doomsdayand the directors to the Russos,this move showed faith in Cretton and what he had done with Shang-Chi.Unfortunately, the filmmaker has since moved on toWonder Man, and the next appearance of Shang-Chi in the universe has been unknown until now.
Shang-Chi 2: Cast, Story & Everything We Know
Shang-Chi 2 is all but official at this point, and here’s everything we know about its potential release date, story details, and returning cast.
Shang-Chi’s Next MCU Appearance Is In Marvel Zombies
The Spinoff Series Was Previously Reported To Premiere In 2024
Shang-Chi will next appear in the upcoming animated seriesMarvel Zombies.Everything known aboutMarvel Zombiesindicates that the series will spin off from theWhat If…?season 1 episode and will feature many Marvel heroes fighting against a zombie apocalypse where heroes and villains alike are transformed.Characters like Okoye, Bucky Barnes, and Ms. Marvel are set to appear in the seriesbased on a limited comic book written byThe Walking Deadcreator Robert Kirkman and released between 2006 and 2007.
It is good to hear that Shang-Chi will be back, but this is not the confirmation that I was hoping for. Recent comments bySimu Liu onShang-Chi 2have the actor saying toPTI"A lot of it is above my pay grade, but it’s definitely happening.“Thisshould be comforting, but after this long, it is only worrisome. We have heard for some time that Shang-Chi would return, but if thefirst-lookMarvel Zombiesfootageis all that we have to show for it after three years, it’s a huge disappointment that only makes me more worried for the character’s future.
MCU Star Reveals Their Storyline In R-Rated Marvel Zombies Show
The MCU is starting to delve into uncharted territory with multiple R-rated projects, and the central character of Marvel Zombies has been revealed.
Shang-Chi 2 Still Hasn’t Been Confirmed By Marvel Studios
The Stars Of Shang-Chi Have Confirmed A Sequel Is In Development
Marvel Studios has not officially announced a sequel toShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Still,there have been all kinds of comments and talk, especially from stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina, that suggest the film is in active development.The movie appears to be inevitable and will hopefully take one of the untitled slots on Marvel’s release calendar for 2026 or 2027. Simu Liu’s star has risen since the release of the first film, and Marvel would be smart to try and get moreShang-Chifilms out as soon as possible.
To be fair, building an entire universe as a franchise does require a great deal of care in scheduling. With the arc of the Multiverse Saga set to introduce Doctor Doom and likely leading to a Battleworld setting that will have enormous ramifications on the entire universe,it might be difficult to fit in another Shang-Chi movie during those events without sacrificing the character’s story.Long gaps between sequels are also not uncommon at Marvel, with the longest being more than five years betweenDoctor StrangeandDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, although that film faced production difficulties.
Avengers 5’s Newest Confirmed Hero Makes A Missing MCU Sequel Even Stranger
A new Avengers 5 report shared a few of the MCU characters who could appear in it, and it makes a missing sequel to a 2021 film seem more confusing.
I Don’t Understand What Marvel Is Doing With Shang-Chi
It Is Beginning To Seem Like Marvel Doesn’t Have A Plan For The New Hero
I wish that I knew what Marvel was doing with Shang-Chi, and I wish that I at least felt confident that they have a plan for the character in the MCU.While Shang-Chi’s appearance inMarvel Zombiescould be a lot of fun, it is only a spinoff series set in another universe, and will likely have little to no effect on the MCU.In addition, it is an ensemble series that will focus on various Marvel heroes, so it is unclear if we will learn anything new or interesting about Shang-Chi and his world.
The mystical side of the Marvel Universe seemed like a promising way forward for the universe afterShang-Chi. The Mandarin and Ta Lao both seemed to be exciting additions to the MCU that could have ramifications on its future. Instead,the Ten Rings organization and exciting iconography like the Great Protector dragon have failed to make any measurable impact on the rest of the universe.In the years since that film was released, nothing new about Shang-Chi, who seems to be set to join the Avengers, has come to light.
Marvel’s Breakout MCU Phase 4 Hero Almost Joined The MCU Over 10 Years Earlier
Shang-Chi joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Phase 4 but he was nearly one of the first Marvel superheroes to appear on film.
Shang-Chi 2 Should Be A Major Priority For The MCU
The Character Is One Of The Most Beloved New Additions To The Marvel Universe
FollowingAvengers: Endgame, Marvel attempted to replace their departed heroes, including Captain America, Iron Man, and Black Widow, with new characters. They have introduced a significant number of characters since, from She-Hulk to Moon Knight to Kate Bishop, and most of this has been to mixed results.Shang-Chi, however, was one of the few characters that all audiences seemed to be in support of.His film scored a 91% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 98% with audiences. This acclaim seems important to capitalize on, but so far the studio hasn’t.
Granted, the film was not the biggest hit for Marvel studios, grossing $432 million. However,this was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the theatrical landscape was in an uncertain place.Most films massively underperformed in that year untilSpider-Man: No Way Homewas able to break a shocking amount of records in December. The overall response to Shang-Chi has been overwhelmingly positive and, after three years, it seems that a sequel should be a higher priority for the studio. If they wait much longer, interest will only fade.
Simu Liu Addresses Whether Shang-Chi 2 Is Still Happening Amid MCU Refocus
With Disney refocusing its MCU release strategy, Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu breaks the silence on concerns that Shang-Chi 2 will not happen.
I still have hope thatShang-Chi 2 will bemade some time in the coming years, although I have stopped holding my breath.The Marvel Cinematic Universe is clearly in a state of restructuring and retooling the path of its Multiverse Saga, and unfortunately, new, exciting characters like Shang-Chi seem to be a casualty of that. There is hope that Shang-Chi will be a major player in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with so much time afterShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, there is also reason to be concerned. Hopefully, we will hear more soon.
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.
