The filmmakers behind Shang-Chi's release date on September 3 is just one week away. After Black Widow and before Eternals introduces new heroes to the MCU, the second film in Phase 4 will introduce Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Marvel's Master of Kung Fu. Destin Daniel Cretton directs with a script from Dave Callaham and Andrew Lanham.
Alongside the Kim's Convenience star, Shang-Chi boasts a predominantly Asian and Asian-American cast. Awkwafina appears as the titular character's best friend, Katy, who is unaware of his secret identity as a skilled martial artist. The film's conflict is expected to be largely familial, as Meng'er Zhang makes her screen debut as Shang-Chi's estranged sister, Xialing. The more recognizable Tony Leung stars as Shang-Chi's father, Wenwu also known as the Mandarin, who tries to lure him back into the titular Ten Rings organization.
In a recent interview, Shang-Chi screenwriter David Callaham discussed the problematic and sometimes racist origins of some of these characters, especially Wenwu, who is a composite character created for the movie. While this character is based on outdated stereotypes, Callaham felt he had the power to change those perceptions with Shang-Chi. In fact, he and fellow filmmakers made a physical list of stereotypes they intended to "destroy." Read what Callaham said below, per Inverse:
"It’s way easier to be violent or hateful to someone you don’t see the same as you. With [the history of] Asian representation in the media, it’s not just that we’ve been invisible for a long time. It’s beyond that. We’re the butt of jokes and stereotypes that are damaging. It’s not nothing. We knew we wanted to change that stuff. [We had a] physical list [of things] we were looking to destroy."
Shang-Chi's father is one way the film tries to avoid some of the outdated aspects of Marvel's source material. In the film, Wenwu replaces the character's original father in the comic books, Fu Manchu, who was created by the British novelist Sax Rohmer in 1913 and licensed by Marvel to be Shang-Chi's evil father in the 1973 comic book series, Master of Kung Fu. Needless to say, some of the outdated aspects of the character, his goatee, fondness for dark magic, and unrelenting desire to conquer, were better left out of the film.
The other comics character who acted as inspiration for Wenwu, including his namesake, was the Mandarin, who also came with some problematic aspects of his own. The name is memorable for Marvel fans due to his appearance in Iron Man 3, portrayed by Ben Kingsley, though he turns out to be an actor hired by the film's real villain. Kingsley is reportedly appearing in Shang-Chi, so it will be interesting to see if the film can do these characters justice, while simultaneously circumventing these outdated stereotypes.
Source: Inverse
