Marvel's All-Asian film 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' wraps filming
Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has just wrapped up filming and its lead star has made a powerful statement about breaking down barriers in Hollywood.
The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the first Marvel film to have an all-Asian cast and predominantly Asian crew.
Shang-Chi is a fictional superhero created by Marvel Comics in the 1970s as a response to the popularity of kung fu charcaters and themes on television at the time.
The titular character, played by Chinese-Canadian actor Simu Liu, will make his live-action debut in the MCU in his own standalone movie. Liu is best known for his role as Jung Kim in Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience streaming on Netflix.
The actor took to Instagram to announce that the film had wrapped up shooting, posing with film’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton.
View this post on InstagramWe made a baby!!! We can’t wait to introduce him to the world in 9 months... ??? #WRAPPED
A post shared by Simu Liu (刘思慕) (@simuliu) on
As reported by Deadline, Liu explained the impact of the first Asian-fronted superhero movie at Marvel Studios. In the private Facebook group "Subtle Asian Traits,” Liu wrote: “For all of those who hated us because of the color of our skin, or been made to feel less than because of it; NO MORE,” Liu wrote. “This is OUR movie, and it will be IMPOSSIBLE for Hollywood to ignore us after this.”
Marvel's Shang-Chi has officially wrapped filming, and lead actor Simu Liu posted an impassioned response honoring the occasion. https://t.co/KYcjp6DSXD pic.twitter.com/RBd5v4vJCx
— IGN (@IGN) October 27, 2020
Though plot details for the big screen adaptation have been kept under wraps, the '70s comics focused on the son of a wealthy Chinese Man, based on Fu Manchu, who raised his son on martial arts cut off from the outside world.
Often referred to as the "Master of Kung Fu", Shang-Chi is proficient in unarmed and weaponry-based wushu styles, including the use of the gùn, nunchaku, and jian. In later years, the character gains the power to create countless duplicates of himself and joins the Avengers.
Filming for Shang-Chi kicked off in February 2020 but was shut down in March due to the pandemic. The film resumed production in July after the lockdown.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings also stars Awkwafina (The Farewell), Tony Leung (In The Mood For Love), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Star Trek: Discovery), and Ronnie Chieng. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige is producing the film while Marvel’s Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and Jonathan Schwartz serve as executive producers.
The film is set to premiere on July 9, 2021.