After having become world-renowned for his portrayal of the titular hero in Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Simu Liu is slated to portray someone on the dark side in Netflix’s Atlas. The actor has signed on to play the antagonist opposite Jennifer Lopez. In addition, it’s been revealed that Sterling K. Brown has also joined the cast in an unknown key role. Brad Peyton is set to helm the project with Aron Eli Coleite currently writing a new draft of the script based off of Leo Sardarian’s original script.
Atlas is set to heavily involve the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Jennifer Lopez stars in the titular role as she fights for the future of humanity due to an AI who has broken bad (assumedly, this will be Simu Liu’s role in the film) with the agenda of killing the species for the sake of the world peace. Due to this, Lopez’s Atlas must work with a different AI as the only chance to defeat this villain.
With this new role, Simu Liu has continued his fast ascent into the upper echelon of modern Hollywood with a large variety of roles. Fans of Liu will have the ability to see the actor continue to branch out his acting range with his upcoming portrayal of a Ken doll in Warner Bros’ Barbie film alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. That film is due for its theatrical release in the summer of 2023. He joins a distinguished group of fellow actors in playing characters on both sides of the morality aisle. Though it certainly remains to be seen if Atlas can match the same level of success Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has maintained on both a commercial and critical level.
Source: Deadline
