Summary
- Shang-Chi's next MCU appearance is in Marvel Zombies, a spinoff animted series, shifting focus away from his original film.
- Simu Liu has confirmed a sequel is in development, but Marvel Studios has not officially announced Shang-Chi 2.
- Shang-Chi's future in the MCU remains uncertain despite his initial success, leaving fans wanting more.
ending of Shang-Chi, audiences have waited patiently to see how this character is integrated into the Avengers. Three years have ed 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 that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was going to be important to the MCU. Following its success, director Destin Daniel Cretton was quickly recruited to helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. While Avengers 5 has changed since, including the title to Avengers: Doomsday and 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 to Wonder 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 animated series Marvel Zombies. Marvel Zombies indicates that the series will spin off from the What 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 series based on a limited comic book written by The Walking Dead creator 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 by first-look Marvel Zombies footage is 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 to Shang-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 more Shang-Chi films 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 between Doctor Strange and Doctor 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 in Marvel Zombies could 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 after Shang-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 the Avengers, has come to light.
Marvel's Breakout MCU Phase 4 Hero Almost ed The MCU Over 10 Years Earlier
Shang-Chi ed 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
Following Avengers: 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 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 until Spider-Man: No Way Home was 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 that Shang-Chi 2 will be made 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 after Shang-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
- Release Date
- September 3, 2021
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
- Director
- Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast
Shaun / Shang-Chi
Xu Wenwu
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
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