Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Shang-Chi 2

  • Delayed Marvel Studios Sequel Gets Encouraging Update

    Delayed Marvel Studios Sequel Gets Encouraging Update

    After getting derailed by a string of projects that did not move up to expectations, Marvel Studios Multiverse Saga seems to be getting back on track. Deadpool & Wolverine brought audiences back to theaters last summer and following Agatha All Along, Marvel Television looks to have another hit on its hands in Daredevil: Born Again which will kick off Marvel’s packed live-action slate. With three films and three live-action streaming series set to release, MCU fans will have plenty of content to keep them busy in 2025.

    The creatives at Marvel will find themselves busy in 2025 as well. After pivoting to Doctor Doom as the big bad of the Multiverse Saga, the studio’s Phase 6 lineup was thrown into disarray. Some projects were cancelled, others delayed, some reworked and a few look to be in limbo. However, as 2024 came to a close, the Marvel Parliament started to chisel away at the 2026 theatrical slate, working with Sony to schedule Spider-Man 4 as the immediate follow up to Avengers: Doomsday.

    Bringing Tom Holland‘s Spidey back to the screen was clearly a priority for the studios for some time and with time running out on the Multiverse Saga, getting the fourth Installment in the MCU-set Spidey franchise in theaters for 2026 ultimately jeopardized Marvel Studios’ plans for another highly-anticipated sequel, Shang-Chi 2. The decision to tap Destin Daniel Cretton to helm Spider-Man 4 meant that production on the sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, expected to begin in 2025, would be delayed indefinitely. However, a new report from a trusted insider has revealed that the studio is looking to get Shang-Chi 2 up and running sooner than we thought.

    According to Daniel Richtman, Marvel Studios is currently planning to begin production on the untitled Shang-Chi sequel some time in 2026.

    While we were shooting [Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings], we were throwing around joke ideas of what a sequel could be. There are a lot of ideas that we had in the opener, and some of those ideas are planted as questions, by the end of our movie. There are things that we potentially want to explore in the future.

    -Destin Daniel Cretton

    In development since late 2021 with Cretton drafting a script, the Shang-Chi sequel was once believed to be an integral part of the Multiverse Saga; however, Shang-Chi may have been unceremoniously pushed out of the spotlight when Marvel Studios pivoted from Kang to Doctor Doom. While Cretton once explained that he had explored many potential ideas for a sequel, only a possible title for the sequel, Shang-Chi and the Wreckage of Time, ever emerged.

    Given the shift in the Multiverse Saga’s direction, it’s safe to assume the plot of Shang-Chi 2 might need to be adjusted, making a 2026 start of production a reasonable possibility for Cretton following his work on Spider-Man 4. The studio currently has two untitled films slated for release in 2027 on July 23 and November 5, meaning both would follow Avengers: Secret Wars which is expected to be the Multiverse Saga finale. Of course, it’s possible that the studio may choose to rearrange those releases should stories, such as whatever they decide on for Shang-Chi 2, need to be told to add to the overall narrative of the saga.

  • Further Details from Marvel’s Scrapped ‘Avengers’ Film Reveal It Was Set to Serve as a Surprise Sequel

    Further Details from Marvel’s Scrapped ‘Avengers’ Film Reveal It Was Set to Serve as a Surprise Sequel

    While MCU fans may never understand the full extent to which Bob Iger‘s return to Disney changed the charted course of Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga, it seems more can be gleaned about it each week. When Marvel Studios used the Summer convention season to promote its 2025 slates of theatrical and streaming projects and made no mention of what 2026 and beyond would bring beyond what was already known, deductive reasoning led to some speculation that not even the Marvel Studios Parliament knew exactly what was next.

    In the weeks that have followed, it’s become increasingly clear that the studio’s plans are still in flux, though recent developments suggest that things are starting to come together behind the scenes. Shortly after rumors emerged that projects such as Armor Wars, Blade and a Shang-Chi sequel were in limbo, trade reports came in that revealed Destin Daniel Cretton was in talks to direct Spider-Man 4. Cretton taking on the latest installment in the Spidey franchise effectively pressed pause on the Shang-Chi sequel, a project that star Simu Liu recently confirmed was in development, promising that “it’s definitely happening.“

    I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings. Just this idea of all of a sudden being gifted something that’s so powerful but also so dangerous. And then the other big question I have is, you know, in what way does Shaun fit in with the rest of the MCU? Who are you going to see? What kind of crazy team-ups? What kinda tie-ins, Easter eggs? I’m just as much in the dark as everyone else, so I don’t know anything, but I’m excited to dive into that process.

    -Simu Liu on a potential Shang-Chi sequel

    While nobody doubts that Liu believes that a sequel to one of the studio’s most critically successful films in the Multiverse Saga will be made eventually, it’s starting to become clear that there’s a reason he also mentioned that he “really can’t say anything” further about the project. However, as it turns out, the Shang-Chi sequel may have actually been delayed far longer ago than any of us knew.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, the original plan for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was for it to have “essentially served” as a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While fans knee-jerk reaction may be to balk at the news, it does mesh with the recent report from Inverse that Shang-Chi was originally intended to have a major role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before the project was “retooled.”

    In the original plan for Avengers 5, then called Kang Dynasty, Shang-Chi would’ve been one of the film’s main leads. A lot’s changed since then; Avengers 5 was meant to focus on Kang the Conqueror, but Marvel has since completely retooled the film to introduce Victor Von Doom.

    -Inverse

    Given that Cretton was originally picked to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it’s certainly not too difficult to believe that Shang-Chi was meant to be one of the film’s leads. Additionally, despite the nebulous nature of that film’s post-credit scene, it’s similarly easy to believe that it could have dovetailed into a confrontation with Kang in the fifth Avengers film. Unfortunately, Jonathan Majors‘ legal troubles and the uneven fan reception to Kang’s role in the Multiverse Saga led to Cretton leaving his post as director of The Kang Dynasty which means that while we may still get a great film in Avengers: Doomsday, we’ll likely never know exactly what was planned for Liu’s wonderful new MCU hero.

  • Marvel and Sony’s ‘Spider-Man 4’ Plans Have Jeopardized a Highly Anticipated MCU Sequel

    Marvel and Sony’s ‘Spider-Man 4’ Plans Have Jeopardized a Highly Anticipated MCU Sequel

    With the Multiverse Saga still skating on thin ice with fans and the studio reworking its slate on the fly, Marvel Studios has shown no hesitation in making big moves to get fans back in theaters. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s record-breaking box office run showed that the studio does still indeed have a pulse but one big hit won’t convince fans they’re back. The return of Anthony and Joe Russo to direct the next two Avengers films with Robert Downey Jr. set to star in them as Victor Von Doom was certainly a fine next step, even if it wasn’t necessarily as well-received at the time as they had hoped.

    Nobody doubts that both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will rake in big bucks at the box office but if there’s one other hero that can be counted on to swing in and save the day, it’s Spider-Man. After some stops and starts, Spider-Man 4 seems to be gaining momentum for a 2025 start of production as Marvel Studios vet Destin Daniel Cretton has reportedly signed on to direct. But has Marvel Studios sacrificed the future of one hero to get the Webslinger back on the screen?

    The decision to turn to Cretton to helm the next installment of Sony and Marvel Studio’s Spidey franchise isn’t incredibly surprising. Marvel Studios’ Big Cheese, Kevin Feige, clearly has faith in Cretton’s ability to lead a major project such as Spider-Man 4. Cretton was the studio’s original choice to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty but as the studio’s vision of the future of the Multiverse Saga evolved, Cretton stepped away. The Kang Dynasty became Doomsday and Cretton went to work on the streaming series Wonder Man and his sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. And as recently as August 2024, it sounded as though things were progressing nicely on that front according to star Simu Liu. “A lot of it is above my pay grade but it’s definitely happening,” Liu told Press Trust of India. However, the news that Cretton will be sliding into the director’s chair for Spider-Man 4 may change all of that.

    Destin is an amazing collaborator who brought a unique perspective and skill to Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. We had a fantastic time working together on the film and he has so many intriguing ideas for stories to bring to life on Disney+, so we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with him and can’t wait to get started.

    -Kevin Feige on Destin Daniel Cretton, December 2021

    Once believed to be an integral part of the Multiverse Saga, Shang-Chi may have been unceremoniously pushed out of the spotlight when Marvel Studios pivoted from Kang to Doctor Doom and Cretton‘s new gig may be the final nail in that coffin. Cretton’s decision to sign on for Spider-Man 4, while understandable on any and every level, pushes Shang-Chi 2 quite a way down the road and almost certainly into 2027 AT BEST.

    As rightfully concerned as Disney has been and may remain about the trajectory of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga plans, derailing the sequel to one of the Saga’s most well-received films must be called into question, even when it’s done to get Spider-Man 4 into the good and trusted hands of Cretton. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings stands as one of the studio’s most complete films in the past several years and provided Liu with an opportunity to break out which he has certainly done. As talented as Cretton is, there’s no shortage of other talented directors capable of shepherding the next Spidey film to the screen. Clearly Marvel Studios has MAJOR plans for Spider-Man 4; however, the fact that those plans will come to fruition at the expense of one of the MCU’s more exciting new characters is incredibly unfortunate and something that, for now, we’ll just have to hope the studio remedies.

  • Simu Liu Updates the Status of ‘Shang-Chi 2’

    Simu Liu Updates the Status of ‘Shang-Chi 2’

    With the third anniversary of the theatrical release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings creeping closer, fans are still waiting for the film’s breakout star, Simu Liu, to return to the MCU. While much of the recent dialogue around Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga centers on the poor performances of several projects, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings still stands as one of the company’s best films post-Endgame, having been both critically and financially successful. Just two months after the film hit theaters during the pandemic in 2021, it was announced that Destin Daniel Cretton inked an overall deal to develop content for Disney including a Shang-Chi sequel.

    Destin is an amazing collaborator who brought a unique perspective and skill to Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. We had a fantastic time working together on the film and he has so many intriguing ideas for stories to bring to life on Disney+, so we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with him and can’t wait to get started.

    -Kevin Feige on Destin Daniel Cretton, December 2021

    According to Cretton, much of the groundwork for the sequel took place during the filming of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. “While we were shooting, we were throwing around joke ideas of what a sequel could be,” said Cretton who added “There are a lot of ideas that we had in the opener, and some of those ideas are planted as questions, by the end of our movie. There are things that we potentially want to explore in the future.” Despite what sounded like a promising start to a sequel script, the director indicated in a 2021 interview that nothing had moved beyond the “idea stage” and that he’d done no work on a script, saying “I’ve done [zero]. It’s a fun place to be right now. Everything is a possibility. We’re just tossing very loose ideas around and we’ll start to hone in on something, hopefully.“

    I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings. Just this idea of all of a sudden being gifted something that’s so powerful but also so dangerous. And then the other big question I have is, you know, in what way does Shaun fit in with the rest of the MCU? Who are you going to see? What kind of crazy team-ups? What kinda tie-ins, Easter eggs? I’m just as much in the dark as everyone else, so I don’t know anything, but I’m excited to dive into that process.

    -Simu Liu on a potential Shang-Chi sequel

    During SDCC ’22, Liu fueled hopes that sequel plans would come to fruition relatively soon, telling the crowd that he was”going to be busy the next few years” and that he’d be starring in “a couple of” projects Marvel Studios announced during the convention. Two years and another SDCC later, Liu’s Shang-Chi still hasn’t returned to the MCU and the sequel still hasn’t been put on Marvel Studios’ slate. It’s an understatement to say that quite a bit has changed behind the scenes at the studio over the last two years and fans have rightfully been worried that the Shang-Chi sequel may have been canceled; however, in a recent interview with Press Trust of India, Liu put those concerns to rest.

    A lot of it is above my pay grade but it’s definitely happening,” said Liu of the sequel, adding, “So just very excited to kind of work on it and it’s going to be amazing. I really can’t say anything beyond that.

    It’s an encouraging update from the film’s star that comes at a time when there simply hasn’t been much information about the project in nearly a year. In late 2023, Cretton was confirmed to still be working on the script while also having stepped down as director of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. With even more changes having taken place at Marvel Studios since then–including the reframing of the entire structure of the Multiverse Saga–it’s unclear what role Shang-Chi will play in the shared narrative over the next few years. Once believed to be integral to mounting a defense against Kang the Conqueror, Shang-Chi’s rings may now have a different purpose with Doctor Doom looming. And while Liu may not be at liberty to discuss just what that purpose is, it is encouraging to know he’s still headed back to the MCU.

    Source: Press Trust of India

  • What If…Marvel Studios Sticks to Its Current Multiverse Saga Film Slate?

    What If…Marvel Studios Sticks to Its Current Multiverse Saga Film Slate?

    After more rounds of shuffling and reshuffling than anyone cares to count, it seems as though Marvel Studios has settled on a plan for the remainder of the Multiverse Saga. While it seems more likely than not that things will shift around again, the latest update to Disney’s theatrical slate shows 1 film in 2024 (Deadpool 3), 4 films in 2025 (Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four and Blade) and 4 in 2026 before getting to Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. Should Marvel Studios somehow stick to that schedule, that leaves one untitled film between Blade and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty/Avengers 5 and two more untitled films between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty/Avengers 5.

    Rumors suggest that Deadpool 3 will do some heavy lifting in terms of advancing the overall narrative of the Multiverse Saga but what other projects NEED to happen before the big finale? What projects WILL happen because they’re the most ready to roll? We take a look at what 2026 might look like if nothing were to change between now and then and how it gets us all to Avengers: Secret Wars.

    February 13, 2026: Armor Wars

    With the news that Marvel Studios is finally searching for a director for the film, it would seem that Armor Wars is the most likely project to be on deck which means it would have the best chance of being ready to hit theaters in February 2026. That slot would make it the last film to hit theaters before Avengers 5. Guardians of the Galaxy was the last film fans saw in theaters before Avengers: Age of Ultron, so there’s precedent for a non-related film to precede an Avengers films.

    Armor Wars doesn’t seem like the kind of film that would have a direct impact on the plot of Avengers 5 but there are plenty of unknowns about the film that could change that perception. Originally conceived as a streaming series, Armor Wars reportedly got too big for D+; presumably, there’s an interesting reason why and maybe that has factored into it getting moved down the road a bit. Could some of the events of Captain America: Brave New World lead into Armor Wars? What about Ironheart? Those are things we might not know for well over a year but regardless, Don Cheadle’s solo Rhodey flick seems like a good bet to fall here and potentially be a step in the direction of assembling the MCU’s New Avengers.

    May 1, 2026: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

    The only 2026 film on the slate with a title, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is currently being written by Michael Waldron.

    July 24, 2026: Shang-Chi 二

    Destin Daniel Cretton’s departure from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty could be taken to mean that his sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was going to need to be ready to go as a follow-up to the fifth Avengers film (it could also mean it needs to be ready to be the lead up to Avengers 5 but we’re staying the course here…). Cretton’s work on Wonder Man will keep him tied up for the first half of 2024 but he’s been working on the script for quite some time and it’s very likely that not only will this one be ready to begin production in 2025 but that it is one of the KEY films in the Multiverse Saga and that it NEEDS to release before the MCU starts its Secret Wars.

    The MCU origins of the Ten Rings remain a mystery and plenty of theories have posited that they may somehow be connected to Kang. If that’s the case, it makes sense that Cretton left Avengers 5 to get to work on Shang-Chi 2 in order to have the latter ready to roll out sometime in 2026.

    November 6, 2026: Doctor Strange 3

    The one project on this list that the least is known about, Doctor Strange 3 also feels like one project that absolutely has to be part of the Multiverse Saga. While Marvel Studios is developing plenty of other projects that could easily roll out AFTER they wrap up their current saga, it would be incredibly strange not to have Doctor Strange’s next film play a crucial role in sorting things out.

    Strange has been described as a key figure in the Multiverse Saga, yet so far he’s had some animated appearances (Seasons 1 and 2 of What If…?),a cameo (Spider-Man: No Way Home), one solo film which only truly served as a set up to whatever comes next (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). Adding a second Strange film to the Saga–even in some sort of larger crossover event–would allow the character to be used similarly to how Captain America was in the Infinity Saga.

    May 7, 2027: Avengers: Secret Wars

    The final film of the Multiverse Saga, Avengers: Secret Wars–like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty–is currently being written by Michael Waldron.

    The Denouement of the Multiverse Saga

    Should Marvel Studios stick to its current theatrical slate, the projects listed above truly seem to make the most sense and provide the path of least resistance to the big conclusion in 2027. Again, it seems far more likely that Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga slate will undergo at least one more round of restructuring; however, for once it seemed like a fun idea to play it by the books at take things at face value.

  • The All-New, All-Different Hypothetical 2026 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    The All-New, All-Different Hypothetical 2026 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    Release slates have never been more fluid than they are now. As productions get up and running again around the world, projects that were supposed to drop in 2024 have already been moved to 2025 and the butterfly effect is in full…effect. Only a crazy person might try to hypothesize when projects might actually see the light of day…so let’s look at one possible Marvel Studios’ release slate for 2026

    January: Wonder Man

    After a little creative retooling, Wonder Man resumed production in mid-January which means it will likely complete principal photography no later than Summer. With that in mind, it could easily be ready to roll out in 2025 but with Marvel Studios looking to space out their D+series and with very few new streaming projects far enough in development to get in front of cameras anytime soon, we’ve decided to put the Simon Williams solo series here.

    February 13th: Blade

    If you’ve checked out the latest version of the All-New, All-Different Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, you already know why this is here. While everyone would love to see Mahershala Ali’s oft-delayed Blade as soon as possible, production delays on other projects look to be causing the Daywalker’s MCU debut to slide into 2026.

    May 1st: Armor Wars

    Initially revealed to be a streaming series, Armor Wars is now a feature film and the first one on any of our hypothetical calendars to not have a release date set aside by Marvel Studios. That makes this spot as purely hypothetical as it gets. With the news that Marvel Studios’ search for a director is underway, it seems likely that cameras could roll on this one in either late 2024 or early 2025 since the script seems to have been in place for some time. IF that’s the case (that’s the nature of these hypothetical calendars, after all), this one would have no problem making this May 1st date…which was most recently set aside for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

    July 24th: Spider-Man 4

    Nobody knows it better than me: Sony sets the date for the Spidey movies that they make in collaboration with Marvel Studios. So why are we placing Spidey 4 on one of Marvel Studios’ tentative release dates? Because it seems increasingly likely that Spidey 4 (once believed to be a 2025 film) will be released in 2026 and it also seems increasingly unlikely that Marvel Studios will be able to roll Avengers 5 out in 2026.

    September: Vision Quest

    Even with Marvel Studios pumping the brakes on their streaming projects while they figure out how to make TV, it does seem Vision Quest is still going to happen. Who is making it and what exactly it will end up looking like are still questions we all have. Originally, it was going to be heavily influenced by Tom King’s excellent 12 issue Vision book but it’s been some time since anyone has had an update. Because this project COULD serve as a sequel to WandaVision and a prequel to the rumored Scarlet Witch solo project, it seems like something the studio would want to make happen and make happen right.

    November 6th: Shang-Chi 2

    Another project that has yet to be officially given a spot in Marvel Studios Multiverse Saga, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi sequel seems like a priority for the studio. Cretton dropped out of Avengers 5 to spend more time preparing this which, hypothetically, could be because the studio wants to roll it out first. Interestingly enough, that’s consistent with info we heard a couple of years ago which makes us inclined to buy it.

  • Destin Daniel Cretton Working on ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel

    Destin Daniel Cretton Working on ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel

    It’s a big news day for Marvel Studios. After the long SAG and WGA strikes, the news is slowly pouring back in on what’s happening in the industry. After The Marvels fizzled out at the box office in its opening weekend, we know that Marvel Studios is trying to restructure and we might already be seeing the first consequences of that action.

    Director Destin Daniel Cretton has left the upcoming Avengers film behind, The Kang Dynasty, and has set his eyes on sticking to the franchise he knows well. While he’s mainly going to kick off his work on the paused Wonder Man Disney+ series, he’s already started work on the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

    That movie opened during the pandemic and managed to grow to $432M globally after a strong Labor Day opening weekend. The move seems fitting to allow Cretton to focus on Shang-Chi, especially now as they are trying to build up existing franchises and brands to regain the momentum it had during Phase 3 and in Phase 4. It’ll be interesting to see what else will happen.

    Source: Deadline

  • Simu Liu Teases Shang-Chi’s Return is “Sooner Than You Think”

    Simu Liu Teases Shang-Chi’s Return is “Sooner Than You Think”

    We’ve just entered Phase 5 and it seems the projects are about to get even more connected than before. The Multiverse Saga is truly upon us and while we don’t know who will return when it seems Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ star Simu Liu has teased an earlier return for his character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    In an interview with People, Liu got a chance to share what it’s like being part of this expansive universe filled with very talented actors and creatives bringing their own stamp to a universe that plays by its own rules. The big reveal comes when he says we might “see something sooner than you think” in regard to his return.

    I’m such a big fan of both the characters and the performers that play them, so any collaboration is an opportunity for me to work alongside someone who, in their own way, is breaking barriers and at the very top of their game. I think that’s what excites me the most as a performer, [and] also as a fan. And who knows, they might see something sooner than you think.

    Simu Liu

    Of course, there’s no clear indication when he might appear but there’s a chance that one of the upcoming Phase 5 films could feature Liu‘s Shang-Chi in some capacity. We saw him interact with members of the now-defunct Avengers and perhaps he’ll end up helping out in Captain America: New World Order, or a secret member of the Thunderbolts that have yet to be unveiled. Of course, he might also be hinting at an announcement for a Shang-Chi sequel that has long been rumored.

    Source: People

  • ‘Eternals 2’ Reportedly a Go at Marvel Studios; ‘Shang-Chi 2’ Set for Production

    ‘Eternals 2’ Reportedly a Go at Marvel Studios; ‘Shang-Chi 2’ Set for Production

    As Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania join it as the most harshly reviewed film in Marvel Studios’ history, a new report indicates that 2021’s Eternals will have a sequel. Though the critical response to the film was poor and audience scores didn’t indicate it was a big hit with fans in theaters, it has found a new life on Disney Plus becoming the streaming service’s biggest film debut. It now seems possible that the streaming success of Eternals may have given the franchise new life.

    According to insider KC Walsh, an Eternals sequel has been given the green light at Marvel Studios and has recently been added to the production schedule alongside the previously announced sequel to Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings.

    https://twitter.com/TheComixKid/status/1628442736943824896?s=20

    Though no further details were provided about when the films might go into production, a quick peek at Marvel Studios’ existing slate would indicate that fans should not expect Eternals 2 or Shang-Chi 2 until 2025 at the earliest. As it stands, there are 2 untitled Marvel Studios films scheduled to release in 2025 and 3 in 2026. With news breaking now about these two projects, it’d would be reasonable to assume under normal circumstances that they’d be ready in time for 2025 but times they are a changing.

  • 5 Asian Superheroes We’d Like to See in ‘Shang-Chi 2’

    5 Asian Superheroes We’d Like to See in ‘Shang-Chi 2’

    A new rumor made the shocking claim that the as-yet untitled sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will introduce a new wave of Asian superheroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With so many options from which to choose, we thought we’d narrow it down a bit. Here are 5 Asian heroes from the pages of Marvel Comics that we’d like to see in the Shang-Chi sequel.

    Amadeus Cho

    The time might finally be right for Amadeus Cho to make his entrance into the MCU. His mother, Helen, appeared in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and fans of Amadeus have been waiting for him to follow her since. The current “present day” of the MCU seems to have moved as far along as 2026 and the Shang-Chi sequel is at least a couple of years away, which could provide enough time for Helen to have had Amadeus, and his twin sister Maddy, and for them to have aged up to 12 or so by the time the film hits theaters. That’s not too far off from the age the characters were when they first appeared in the comics and assuming there isn’t another time jump coming that we don’t know about yet.

    Why would Marvel Studios introduce a pre-teen/teen hero into the MCU? Other than the fact that he’s one of the 10 smartest people in the world (he was listed as the 7th smartest when he first appeared) and is essentially a walking hypercomputer and a brilliant strategist. If, as the new rumor also suggests, time travel is involved, Cho would be uniquely positioned to help the heroes quickly calculate when and where they need to be.

    Additionally, the time is right for Cho to make his debut because it seems the MCU is setting the stage for a pair of stories that Cho was part of in the comics. The rumored World War Hulk project could include Cho as he played a big role in it in the comics. Cho also developed a close relationship with Hercules, who was recently introduced into the MCU. It’s certainly not “now or never” for Cho but now is as good of a time as any.

    Lin Lie

    Shang-Chi introduced the quasi-mystical dimension of Ta Lo to the MCU and, with it, the idea that there is a rich and hidden history of magic, both good and evil, that could be explored down the line. Other dimensions and hidden cities like Ta Lo exist and so too do other ancient evils like the Dweller in Darkness. The MCU is also starting to find itself populated with mysterious and powerful artifacts that when wielded by the right person are capable of incredible things. If Marvel Studios wanted to add another character to their roster of heroes that checks off a couple of those boxes, Lin Lie should be near the top of their list.

    Lin is the descendant of Fu Xi, a legendary Chinese hero who created a powerful sword which held defeat and imprison the God of War, Chiyou, and his demon horde. Lin inherited the sword in modern day just as Chiyou’s spirit was released from it’s prison. Lin took on the name Sword Master for a time before becoming the Immortal Weapon known as the Iron Fist.

    Lin Lie has always felt like a character who was designed with an MCU future in mind. The Sword of Fu Xi could join the Ten Rings and the bangle of Kamala Khan as artifacts of ancient and alien origin that seem to be a major part of the coming battle against Kang. Additionally, the Shang-Chi sequel, like its predecessor, is rumored to feature some mystical, magical madness. It wouldn’t be a stretch for the film to take another trip back in time and introduce another ancient evil…and who knows, maybe a Kang Variant played a role in the forging of Sword Master’s sword.

    Mr. Lao

    If you hadn’t caught on yet, the inclusion of Mr. Lao probably gives away the team we’re hoping is assembled in Shang-Chi 2: the Agents of Atlas.

    The Atlas Foundation fits nicely into the Multiverse Saga and into a time travel film because of its ancient origins. In fact, the MCU origins of Atlas Foundation could easily be reconned to have connections to a Kang Variant. Either way, the Foundation’s long history with advanced weapons and mysticism could make them a formidable ally in the fight against Kang.

    Mr. Lao, a human who was transformed into a Lung Dragon, could serve nicely as the expository device for the Atlas Foundation’s long history while recruiting Shang-Chi and the other heroes to his cause as Agents of Atlas.

    Wave

    A relatively new hero from the pages of Marvel Comics, the Filipino hero Pearl Pangan would give the team an elemental powerhouse. Pearl gained the power of hydrokinesis after a run of the mill Marvel science accident. As the hero Wave, she stood tall as an Agent of Atlas during Malekith’s invasion of Earth in the War of the Realms event.

    The addition of Wave to the roster would not only give the team a truly superpowered member but also introduce the MCU’s first Filipino superhero.

    White Fox

    The South Korean superhero Ami Han is about as good of a fit as anyone for the world of mysticism first seen in Shang -Chi. Han is a member of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and of their superhuman response team, Tiger Division.

    A formidable hand-to-hand combatant and high-level intelligence agent, Ham would serve the team with those skills alone. However, it’s her identity as a shape shifting Kumiho and the rare power set that comes with it that ties into the mystical world of Ta Lo and other like it.

    Kumiho are the nine-tailed foxes of legend who seduce and kill mortal men. Han is the last known Kumiho in existence in the comics. Han’s mesmerism and energy absorption would provide the Agents of Atlas unrivaled powers against their potential foes.

    After being introduced in 2006, the Agents of Atlas were reconfigured in the comics recently as a collective of heroes from across Asia. If Shang-Chi 2 is truly looking to add more Asian heroes (and it wouldn’t take inside information to imagine it might), the new version of the Agents of Atlas is a ready-made solution. While we only chose 5, there are plenty of other options, including others who serve as agents of the Atlas Foundation in the comics already. And of course, should Shang-Chi 2 be introducing the time, Randall Park‘s Jimmy Woo should get his time to shine as the rightful khan of the organization.