Marvel reveals the kung-fu brilliance of Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings
By Alex Kelly
On the 32nd birthday of star Simu Liu, Marvel Studios released the first official footage for the upcoming Phase 4 film Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings. The film will introduce the first Asian-American hero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Liu as the titular Shang-Li alongside Awkwafina and Tony Leung Chiu-wai,
The movie promises to be an exciting mix of Marvel action and kung fu, with the trailer showing off the intense fighting sequences that Liu was able to bring to life.
The story will focus on Shang-Chi being recruited by his father as well as flashbacks to his training as a child, and his eventual split away from his father’s dealings.
While Chiu-wai is seen in this trailer as Shang-Chi’s father, it has been rumored that he will also appear as the supervillain known as The Mandarin. This character has a long history in Marvel Comics, but a far more complicated one in the world of the MCU.
Ben Kingsley was cast as the Mandarin in 2013’s Iron Man 3, but the decision to make Kingsley a fake Mandarin (in the world of the film, he’s actually an actor named Trevor) is one that angered many hardcore fans. The decision to introduce the real Mandarin in the Shang-Chi movie and include the legendary Ten Rings that the character is very closely associated with is an intriguing twist that brings even more excitement to a project that was going to be groundbreaking regardless.
While it does not appear in the teaser trailer, the first poster for the movie gives us our first look at the superhero costume that Liu will be donning as Shang-Chi. The dark red outfit is very close to its comic book counterpart, with a dark crimson V on the chest and half sleeves.
Like many other Marvel films, including Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has seen its release date shift several times due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. It’s currently slated to hit theaters on September 3, 2021.
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What did you think of the first teaser for Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings? Did it live up to expectations? Let us know in the comments below!