Simu Liu recalled the moment he got cast in the lead role for Tony Leung as the Mandarin, Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, and Benedict Wong, who will be reprising his role of Wong after appearing in several other MCU films.
Additionally, 's trailer featured the surprise return of Abomination, although it is unclear if Tim Roth is playing the role again. Shang-Chi will serve as an origin story for its titular character as he is thrust back into the world of the Ten Rings organization and forced to confront his past and his complicated relationship with his father. Liu has shown his excitement for the role on social media, letting fans know just how much the role means to him and now he has opened up about the moment he found out that he would be starring in one of the world's most popular franchises.
Speaking to EW, Liu said that he was in his underwear in his apartment when he got the call. The actor had just come off from a hard day on the set of Kim's Convenience when Marvel head Kevin Feige called him alongside director Destin Daniel Cretton and casting director Sarah Finn. Four days later, Liu found himself onstage in Hall H at San Diego Comic Con next to stars like Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie, announcing his casting as the first Asian superhero in the MCU.
I found myself on stage with some of the most famous people in the world, wearing my $20 Zara sweater and skinny jeans. It was insane.
Liu has maintained these feelings of excitement and shock throughout the various stages of production and promotion for the film. When Marvel released the Shang-Chi trailer on Liu's birthday, the actor took to Twitter to express his excitement and it was clear that he was perfectly toeing the line between fan and actor. Being cast in a Marvel movie is likely to change Liu's life and when it's one as groundbreaking as this, there's an emotional element to it that is unmatched.
Similarly, when Liu tried on his Shang-Chi costume for the first time, the actor nearly cried, becoming overwhelmed with emotion. As only the second film to premiere after Marvel's return to theaters in 2021, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is shaping up to be quite the emotional experience, both for its lead star and for fans who have longed to see more diverse heroes on the big screen.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
