The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will welcome this Friday, September 3, Shang-Chi, one of the not so well known characters of The House of Ideas in the world of comics, but that in Phase 4 of the company’s cinematographic universe it will assume a fundamental role. The Mandarin’s son, played by Simu Liu in this new movie, is actually a fascinating character that, judging by the first reviews, Shang-Chi and the legend of the Ten Rings may surprise us for good on the big screen.
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Marvel Studios’ challenge: turn Shang-Chi into an international icon
The origin of Shang-Chi dates back to the early 1970s. Marvel Comics wanted to introduce an Asian superhero to their slate of great icons and they took a look at the possible purchase of the rights to the television show Kung Fu. The main problem they found is that the rights remained with Warner (owner of DC Comics), a direct rival of Marvel, and the refusal was almost imminent.
Marvel’s plan b was to acquire the rights to the comic from novelist Sax Rohmer, the villain Dr. Fu Machu, and this is how Shang-Chi, the master of Kung Fu and son of the Fu Manchu, ambitious Chinese master aiming to conquer the world. Its first appearance dates back to Special Marvel Edition #15 December 1972 with Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin to the rings. The truth is that the play did not go bad; especially due to the rise of martial arts at that time in North American lands.
While her role in the Marvel universe has never been as prominent as others, her role in the Secret Wars —One of the greatest events of the eighties — by being able to use the techniques of the School of the Ten Rings of the Mandarin and thus save the natural cycle, it is not until now that it will be exposed to the general public. His great opportunity at the media level.
Already in 2018, Marvel Studios hires David Callaham to write the script for a Shang-Chi movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shortly afterwards, Destin Daniel Cretton to assume its direction and, although initially the premiere was planned for February 2021, the vicissitudes of COVID-19 postponed the company’s initial roadmap with severe delays in many of its films.
It is September 3 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings finally hits theaters around the world with Simu Liu in the role of Shang-Chi plus other names like Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.
Source | Marvel Fandom
