It would be safe to assume that dozens of actors are considered for every role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was rumored that Ludi Lin and Ross Butler, and possibly even Donnie Yen were considered for the role of Shang-Chi, in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, with the role ultimately going to Canadian sitcom star Simu Liu.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton was in attendance at the Toronto International Film Festival to present his newest film, the legal drama ‘Just Mercy’, when MTV’s Josh Horowitz asked: “Can you just tell me what you saw in your leading man, after a long search, why he was the guy?”
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Cretton responded:
“He’s awesome. There’s just an undefined thing that when somebody pops, everybody’s in agreement, and they’re just really excited.”
You can watch the interview below:
.@destindaniel talked to us about bringing #ShangChi to the big screen with @MarvelStudios, and if there’s any chance that #CaptainMarvel will make an appearance: “I think there’s always room for @brielarson” 👀 #TIFF19 pic.twitter.com/rPVjOLuD9o
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) September 7, 2019
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ was written by Dave Callaham. The film also stars Awkwafina and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung. It is believed that Leung is portraying the Marvel supervillain The Mandarin.
In the comics, Shang-Chi was raised by his father, the pulp crime boss Fu-Manchu, to be the ultimate assassin. The plan worked, but after his first kill, Shang-Chi discovered his father’s evil nature and fled. He wandered seeking redemption and often found himself battling his father and other evil forces from within the Marvel Universe. It is believed that in the movie, Fu-Manchu, a racial stereotype from the past, is being replaced by The Mandarin.
Cretton’s latest film, ‘Just Mercy’, stars many actors that have played Marvel characters, although not necissarily in Marvel movies– Michael B. Jordan (Erik Stevens/Killmonger, ‘Black Panther’), Brie Larson (‘Captain Marvel’), Jamie Foxx (Electro/’The Amazing Spider-Man 2′), and Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns, ‘The Incredible Hulk’).
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ is expected to open in theaters in February 2021.
