Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings exceeded everyone's expectations both critically and commercially last year, singling itself out as one of Marvel Studios' best origin stories. Disney wasted no time in announcing a sequel, and after a mid-credits scene teasing a huge threat to Earth, it feels like the stakes are about to be upped considerably.
We'd bet on the Ten Rings' creators, the Makluans, heading to the planet to retrieve them, and that could have world-ending consequences (they're space dragons, basically).
Talking to Complex Canada, Shang-Chi himself, Simu Liu, shared his thoughts on a sequel being in the works. "[What] I really loved was hearing about Destin [Daniel Cretton] coming back. He’s such a critical part of the success of that movie...him coming back means that we get to do it all over again, which is fantastic. And then, seeing all the other stuff that he’s locked in with Disney and Marvel makes me incredibly happy as well. He’s a truly special filmmaker."
Cretton is reportedly developing some sort of Shang-Chi spinoff for Disney+ as well as the movie's sequel, so he certainly appears to be getting comfortable in the MCU. While it's still very early days for all these projects, Liu already has some thoughts on where he wants the hero's story to go next.
"I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know?" the actor responded when asked what he hopes happens in the sequel. "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?" Liu continued. "I’m just as much in the dark and everyone else, so I don’t know anything, but I’m excited to dive into that process."
After his meeting with Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner, and Wong, it already feels like Shang-Chi is part of The Avengers, so the stage is clearly being set for big things for the hero moving forward.
What are you hoping for in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel?