Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay by David Callaham and stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, alongside Tony Leung.

Shang-Chi and the Legend
of the Ten Rings
Official logo
Directed byDestin Daniel Cretton
Produced byKevin Feige
Screenplay byDavid Callaham
Based on
Starring
CinematographyBill Pope
Production
company
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • May 7, 2021 (2021-05-07) (United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A film based on Shang-Chi has been in development since 2001, but work did not begin in earnest on the project until 2018 with the hiring of Callaham. Cretton joined in early 2019, with the project fast-tracked to be Marvel's first film with an Asian lead. The film's title and primary cast were announced that July, revealing the film's connection to the Mandarin (Leung) and his Ten Rings organization that appear throughout the MCU. Filming began in February 2020 in Australia, and was put on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed at the end of July into early August 2020. Los Angeles is also expected to be another filming location.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 7, 2021, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.

Cast
Simu Liu at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
  • Simu Liu as Shang-Chi: A skilled martial artist.[1]
  • Tony Leung as the Mandarin:
    The leader of the Ten Rings terrorist organization. The Mandarin replaces Shang-Chi's comic book father Fu Manchu, a "problematic character" associated with racist stereotypes whom Marvel Studios does not hold the film rights to.[1] Director Destin Daniel Cretton stated that he wanted to change the problematic aspects of the Mandarin, saying, "I think [Leung] brings a humanity that we need for that character. We are not looking to contribute anymore to the Asian stereotypes that we have seen both in cinema and pop culture... [Leung] is such an incredible actor and I'm excited to have him help us break some of those stereotypes".[2]

Additionally, Awkwafina and Ronny Chieng have been cast in undisclosed roles.[1][3]

Production

Development

According to Margaret Loesch, former president and CEO of Marvel Productions, Stan Lee discussed a potential Shang-Chi film or television series with actor Brandon Lee and his mother Linda Lee during the 1980s, with the intention of having Brandon Lee star as the character in such a project.[4] Brandon's father, martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was the visual inspiration for artist Paul Gulacy when drawing Shang-Chi during his tenure on the Master of Kung Fu comic book series in the 1970s.[5] In 2001, Stephen Norrington signed a deal to direct a Shang-Chi film entitled The Hands of Shang-Chi.[6][7] By 2003, the film was in development at DreamWorks Pictures with Yuen Woo-Ping replacing Norrington as director and Bruce C. McKenna hired to write the screenplay.[8] Ang Lee joined the project as a producer in 2004, but the film did not materialize after that point and the rights to the character reverted to Marvel.[7] In September 2005, Marvel chairman and CEO Avi Arad announced Shang-Chi as one of ten properties being developed as films by the newly formed studio Marvel Studios,[9] after the fledgling company received financing to produce the slate of ten films which were to be distributed by Paramount Pictures.[10]

According to Chris Fenton, former president of the Chinese based film production company DMG Entertainment, who was in talks with Marvel Studios to co-produce their films, Marvel offered to create a teaser featuring either Shang-Chi or the Mandarin for the Chinese market that would be featured at the end of The Avengers (2012). DMG balked at the offer, since the Mandarin's negative stereotypical portrayal in the comics could potentially prevent the film from releasing in China and risk shutting down DMG as a company. Ben Kingsley would eventually portray Trevor Slattery, an impostor posing as the Mandarin, in Iron Man 3 (2013), which DMG co-produced.[11]

By December 2018, Marvel had fast-tracked development of a Shang-Chi film with the intent of making it their first film with an Asian lead. Marvel hired Chinese-American writer David Callaham to write the screenplay, and began looking at Asian and Asian-American filmmakers to potentially direct the film. The studios' goal was to explore "Asian and Asian-American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian-American filmmakers", as they had done for African and African-American culture with Black Panther earlier in 2018.[12] Development of the film also came following the success of the film Crazy Rich Asians, also released earlier in 2018, which led to several other Asian-led properties being developed by Hollywood studios.[13] Callaham's script was expected to modernize elements of the character's comic book story, which was first written in the 1970s, to avoid what modern audiences would consider to be negative stereotypes.[12] Richard Newby of The Hollywood Reporter said the film could "break out in a way similar to Black Panther" by bringing a new perspective to the character. Newby felt Shang-Chi could have worked well as a television series, and said it "speaks volumes" that Marvel would decide to make a feature film about the character instead. Newby concluded that the film is an opportunity to avoid stereotypes about Asian martial artists and be "more than Marvel's Bruce Lee".[14]

Marvel Studios hired Japanese-American filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton to direct the film in March 2019. Deborah Chow—who previously directed episodes of Marvel's Iron Fist and Jessica Jones television series—Justin Tipping, and Alan Yang were also considered.[15] In April, Marvel Studios and Australian Arts Minister Mitch Fifield announced that an upcoming Marvel film, believed to be Shang-Chi, would be filmed at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney and on location throughout the state of New South Wales. The production received AU$24 million (US$18 million) in one-off funding from the Australian government, as well as backing from the AU$10 million (US$8 million) "Made in NSW" state fund. The production was expected to generate AU$150 million (US$115 million) for the Australian economy as well as 4,700 new jobs, while taking advantage of around 1,200 local businesses.[16] Don Harwin, the New South Wales Arts Minister, confirmed in July that this film was Shang-Chi and revealed that it would be produced back-to-back with Marvel Studios' Thor: Love and Thunder (2022); production on Shang-Chi was set to be completed before work began on Love and Thunder later in 2020.[17]

Pre-production

In mid-July, Marvel began testing actors in their 20s for the role of Shang-Chi. The studio was adamant that actors be of Chinese descent to audition for the character.[18] This group included Simu Liu, who tested for the part on July 14 and was officially cast on July 16. This was announced by producer Kevin Feige and Cretton at Marvel Studios's San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 20, where the film's full title was announced to be Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Feige noted that the Ten Rings organization had appeared throughout the MCU since its introduction in the franchise's first film, Iron Man (2008), and said its leader the Mandarin would be introduced in this film with Tony Leung in the role. Feige also announced that Awkwafina would appear in the film.[1] Filming was expected to begin in November 2019,[19] but Cretton said in October that production would begin in early 2020.[20] In December, Feige said the film would feature predominantly Asian cast members.[21] A month later, Michelle Yeoh entered talks for a role in the film, said to be different from Aleta Ogord, who Yeoh portrayed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).[22]

Filming

Principal photography began in February 2020,[23][24] shooting at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney and on location throughout the state of New South Wales.[16] Filming was also expected to take place in Los Angeles.[19] Bill Pope serves as cinematographer for the film. Cretton chose Pope because he felt the cinematographer's style could be both naturalistic and heightened, and because of Pope's work on The Matrix, which Cretton believed had the right tone for an MCU film focused on Asian and Asian-American characters.[20]

On March 12, after studios had started halting production on films due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cretton decided to have himself tested for coronavirus after working closely with people who had potentially been exposed to it.[24][25] This was a precaution due to Cretton having a newborn baby, and he self-isolated while awaiting these results;[25] the test later came back negative.[24] While Cretton was self-isolating, Marvel temporarily suspended first unit production for the film but intended for second unit and other aspects of the production to continue as normal.[25] On March 13, the rest of the film's production was paused as Disney halted filming on most of its projects.[26] Before production shut down, Ronny Chieng joined the cast in an undisclosed role.[3] In early April, Disney shifted much of their Phase Four slate of films due to the pandemic, moving Shang-Chi's release date to May 7, 2021.[27] In early July 2020, it was announced that any cast and crew member returning to the country to resume filming would be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival, according to Australia's guidelines.[28] Work building sets for the film resumed at the end of the month, and by August 2, all cast and crew members had arrived and completed their quarantine to begin shooting "in the coming days".[29]

Release

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is scheduled to be released on May 7, 2021.[27] It was previously scheduled to be released on February 12, 2021,[1] the first day of the Chinese New Year,[30] but was shifted to the May 2021 date because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be part of Phase Four of the MCU.[31][27]

References
  1. Kit, Borys; Galuppo, Mia (July 20, 2019). "Marvel Finds Its Shang-Chi with Chinese-Canadian Actor Simu Liu". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  2. Katz, Brandon (September 10, 2019). "Exclusive: Destin Daniel Cretton on Breaking Stereotypes in Marvel's 'Shang-Chi'". Observer. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  3. Fisher, Jacob (April 7, 2020). "Ronny Chieng Joins 'Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings' (Exclusive)". Discussing Film. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. Francisco, Eric (November 23, 2018). "Stan Lee Tried to Make a Shang-Chi Movie Starring Bruce Lee's Son". Inverse. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  5. Cooke, Jon B. (February 2000). "A Master of Comics Art - Artist Paul Gulacy and His Early Days at Marvel". Comic Book Artist. No. 7. TwoMorrows Publishing. Archived from the original on March 6, 2001. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. Brehmer, Nat (January 16, 2020). "Breaking Down the Deleted 'Blade' Ending Featuring Morbius and Why We Never Got That Sequel". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  7. Craig, Andrew (March 30, 2018). "15 Abandoned Marvel Movie/TV Projects That We Never Got To See". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  8. Balsley, Sarah (April 15, 2003). "Marvel Puts Shang Chi In DreamWorks' Hands". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  9. "Marvel Making Movies". IGN. September 6, 2005. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  10. Vincent, Rodger (September 6, 2005). "Marvel to Make Movies Based on Comic Books". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  11. Johnston, Rich (August 6, 2020). "Marvel Studios Offered Shang-Chi Or Mandarin For First Avengers Movie". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  12. Fleming Jr., Mike (December 3, 2018). "'Shang-Chi' Marvel's First Asian Film Superhero Franchise; Dave Callaham Scripting, Search On For Director Of Asian Descent". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  13. Galuppo, Mia; McMillan, Graeme (December 3, 2018). "Marvel Developing Shang-Chi Movie with 'Wonder Woman 1984' Writer". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  14. Newby, Richard (December 4, 2018). "How 'Shang-Chi' Could Be Marvel's Next 'Black Panther'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  15. Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (March 13, 2019). "Marvel's 'Shang-Chi' Sets Director Destin Daniel Cretton". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  16. Maddox, Garry (April 5, 2019). "Marvel's first Asian superhero movie tipped to shoot in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  17. Frater, Patrick (July 25, 2019). "Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder' and 'Shang-Chi' to Shoot in Sydney, Australia". Variety. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  18. Kroll, Justin [@krolljvar] (July 13, 2019). "With comic-con closing in, hearing Marvel is putting out test offers for a group of men in their 20s for its Shang-Chi movie. Marvel have also been adamant to reps offering up their clients for the role that they have to be of Chinese ancestry no other Asian ancestry excepted" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019 – via Twitter.
  19. Outlaw, Kofi (September 27, 2019). "Marvel's Shang-Chi Production Start Date and Project Synopsis Revealed". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  20. Goldberg, Matt (October 14, 2019). "'Shang-Chi' Director Destin Daniel Cretton on His Vision for the New Marvel Film". Collider. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  21. Chapman, Tom (December 30, 2019). "Marvel's Shang-Chi Film's Cast Is Nearly Completely Asian". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  22. Davis, Brandon (January 21, 2020). "Michelle Yeoh In Talks For Marvel's Shang-Chi". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  23. Martens, Todd (March 6, 2020). "The Walt Disney Archives are shaping the culture of tomorrow. Ask Marvel's Kevin Feige". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  24. D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 16, 2020). "'Shang-Chi' Director Destin Daniel Cretton Tests Negative For Coronavirus, Says "Social Distancing Is An Act Of Love…For Every Person"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  25. Kit, Borys (March 12, 2020). "Marvel's 'Shang-Chi' Temporarily Suspends Production as Director Self-Isolates (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  26. Kroll, Justin (March 13, 2020). "Disney Halts Production on Most Live-Action Films Including 'The Last Duel'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  27. Welk, Brian (April 3, 2020). "'Black Widow' Moves to November as Other MCU Films Shift Back to 2021, 2022". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  28. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 1, 2020). "'Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings' Prepping To Restart Production In Australia By End Of July". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  29. Laman, Douglas (August 2, 2020). "Shang-Chi: News Chopper Captures Clear Look of MCU Film's Asian Set". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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  31. Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (July 20, 2019). "Marvel Unveils Post-'Endgame' Slate with 'Eternals', 'Shang-Chi' and Multiple Sequels". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
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