According to a new report about the MCU’s upcoming slate of projects, Shang-Chi 2 is already in development and could film in 2023.

Shang-Chi 2 is reportedly already in development at Marvel Studios. Back in early September, the MCU’s second movie out of Phase 4, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, took the world by storm in its theatrical debut. Originally scheduled to release earlier this year, Shang-Chi quickly became a bona fide box office sensation, breaking Labor Day records in its first weekend to become the highest-grossing domestic movie of this year with $221 million at the time of this writing. The movie stars Simu Liu as the titular hero in his first live-action appearance and charts the history of his upbringing as it intersects with his present.

As with any Marvel project, a sequel has been extremely likely for Shang-Chi even before it premiered. It’s rare for the MCU to give a character just one solo project, and the post-credits scenes of Shang-Chi teased a much bigger future for Liu’s character. Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed just before the movie came out that he and his creative team already had ideas for Shang-Chi 2, and it looks like it’s finally becoming a reality.

According to GWW as part of a larger report on upcoming MCU projects, Shang-Chi 2 is now in development at Marvel Studios. Few details were given, but it’s said a 2023 production date is eyed for this sequel. This comes from the same report that announced a Thunderbolts movie is in development, along with a solo project for the Marvel hero Nova. Marvel has neither confirmed nor denied this report.

Assuming Shang-Chi 2 is still in very early development, it’s still unclear as to who could return for the sequel. Liu will almost certainly be back as Shang-Chi, and there’s a good chance Awkwafina and Meng’er Zhang will return as Katy and Xialing, respectively. On the creative side, hopefully Destin Daniel Cretton will be back in the director’s chair, though there is precedent for Marvel swapping directors from one movie to the next. Cretton has expressed interest in returning, though, so it seems likely he’ll be tapped for Shang-Chi 2.

With a potential 2023 production start on the table, Shang-Chi 2 might not release until 2024. That seems a long ways off, but it isn’t too shocking. The MCU is completely set for next year and already has a busy 2023 with movies like The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In the meantime, Shang-Chi could turn up in other MCU projects to keep his story going as the wait continues for his second solo movie. Hopefully, Marvel will see fit to reveal some details about Shang-Chi 2 soon.

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With temperatures going back to single digits, it’s fair to say we are well and truly welcoming in autumn, and what better way to stay warm than with luxury outerwear brand Nobis. Known for their innovate jackets and cosy styles, the brand are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year, and they’re enlisting Canadian actor Simu Liu as their new global brand ambassador. From his stand-out role in Kim’s Convenience to Marvel’s latest hit Shang-Chi and the Legends of The Ten Rings, the actor has brought his vision for representation and perspective to his new partnership with the brand, combining them with Nobis’ culture and ethos.

Speaking on the new venture, Liu said, “To me, this new adventure with Nobis is personal – it has provided me with the chance to help continue to pave the way for those who are denied opportunity based on their ethnicity, in ways that bring their voices and stories to the forefront. I truly stand behind Nobis and the notion of defying society’s parameters through fashion.”

Announcing the news alongside the introduction of a new collection, we see the brand redefine its classic silhouettes, incorporating contemporary styling that channels Simu’s authentic style.

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Asian actors have made a major impact in Hollywood blockbusters this year, playing heroic roles and destroying stereotypes along the way. They are taking the baton from pioneers such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan and raising the status of Asian actors to the next level.

The protagonists in some of the year’s biggest films come from diverse career backgrounds, such as hair styling and architecture, before they were sucked into the acting vortex and emerged as globally recognised stars.

Simu Liu: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The Chinese-Canadian actor made history as the first Asian actor to be cast in the lead superhero role in a Marvel movie. In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, he plays the protagonist Shang-Chi, a skilled martial artist who was trained at a young age by his father to be an assassin. Released last month, the blockbuster became the highest grossing box office movie in the US for 2021, raking in US$400 million worldwide even without the massive China market, according to Screen Rant.

Liu was born in Harbin, China, in 1989 and immigrated to Canada at age five. He studied business at the University of Western Ontario and worked as an accountant for Deloitte before pursuing a career as an actor and stuntman. To support himself, he worked part-time jobs such as a stock image model, a substitute for stunt performers and even dressing-up as Spider-Man for children’s birthday parties, according to BuzzFeed.

In 2016, Liu made his TV breakthrough in CBS comedy series Kim’s Convenience as Jung Kim, one of the protagonists. Kim’s Convenience aired for five seasons between 2016 and 2021 and is recognised as one of the most successful shows in Canadian TV history.

His other outstanding works include Taken, where he starred alongside Liam Neeson, and series such as Blood and Water, Dark Matter, Orphan Black, Fresh off the Boat, and recently, another Disney project Star Wars: Visions, in which he voices the character Zhima in the Japanese anime anthology series.
He also auditioned for the role of Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, losing out to Henry Golding. But he told Digital Spy that he expressed an interest in the role of Carlton Bao, the troublesome half-brother of Rachel Chu who will be making an appearance in the sequel.

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To say that the pandemic has been tough on theaters is an understatement. We’re still working through it, but the success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is proof that movie theaters aren’t going anywhere just yet. Marvel Studios’ martial arts flick has become the first film to cross the $200 million mark at the domestic box office, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Unlike Disney’s other spring and early summer offerings, Shang-Chi premiered exclusively in theaters. Black Widow, Jungle Cruise, and Cruella both debuted simultaneously on Disney+ Premier Access and in theaters, calling any box office numbers they scored into question.

THR notes that Shang-Chi has been doing well not just by pandemic-era standards but all on its own, too. The film set a new Labor Day record with its 94.7 million four-day opening, and as the second-biggest opening of 2021, behind Marvel’s own Black Widow.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has surpassed $360 million in global ticket sales, and is heading for Black Widow’s $378.4 million box office number. Make sure to check out our feature, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Explained: What Does It Mean For Phase 4? Also scheduled for this year from Marvel are Marvel’s Eternals, set for November 5, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which premieres on December 17, 2021.

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