Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings put actor Simu Liu on the map, though it was also the biggest movie of director Destin Daniel Cretton's career. Following that blockbuster's massive critical and commercial success, the filmmaker signed a deal with Marvel Studios to develop a sequel and at least one Disney+ spin-off (which is now thought to be Wonder Man).
Of course, we've since learned that he'll also helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Liu has shared his reaction to that news during a recent interview with ComicBook.com.
"It feels incredible. I obviously learned about the news a little bit before the rest of the world did, but I freaked out," the actor admits. "I sent him like forty texts in a row, all exclamation marks. I'm just so incredibly happy for him, he's so deserving of that spot."
"What makes him such a special filmmaker, and I've said this from the beginning even when we were premiering our movie, is his ability to make a $150 million movie really, really small, in the best possible way."
"I'm really looking forward to what he does on that even grander scale of The Avengers because I think it's easy to maybe get lost in the spectacle of what those movies can be, the vastness and the grandness of it, but if you can maintain the humanity and the human stories," Liu continued, "I think that's what will make a movie memorable and special, and I think Destin's got it."
"I think he's got it and I think he deserves this so much. I'm so excited to get to work for him again."
Asked if that last statement is confirmation that we'll see Shang-Chi in the next Avengers movie, Liu coyly responded, "I would think so...I would hope so. Don't take my word for it."
We'd say Shang-Chi will be front and centre in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, particularly if theories that the Ten Rings are tied to Kang the Conqueror pan out. Brie Larson's Captain Marvel is also likely to be key, as she's so far appeared in every single one of Cretton's movies.
Rumour has it the next Shang-Chi movie will be titled The Wreckage of Time, so we'd bet on it picking up with the aftermath of the Multiverse Saga.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is set to be released on May 2, 2025.