Marvel Drops First Trailer for 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'
THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE IS BRINGING THE MASTER OF KUNG FU TO THE BIG SCREEN.
Marvel Studios released the first trailer for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” on Monday. The upcoming action film centers around the titular character, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) leaving behind a playboy lifestyle to confront his past as a trained assassin for the organization known as the Ten Rings. With this film, Marvel is looking to tell a new story with an Asian-led cast and crew, to the point that “Legend of the Ten Rings” is the first MCU film with an Asian lead.
One highly discussed aspect of the trailer is its inclusion of the villain known as the Mandarin. Although that character was referenced in “Iron Man 3” with Ben Kingsley playing an actor who is pretending to be him, used as a puppet by Guy Pearce’s villain, this subversion proved to be controversial. Also, in the comics, the Ten Rings are actual rings worn by the Mandarin that have magical properties in them, whereas in the Iron Man films, they made the Ten Rings a Middle Eastern terrorist organization that was written to echo the consequences of George Bush's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Canadian audiences will recognize star Simu Liu from his role in the hit show “Kim's Convenience”. The cast rounds out with Awkwafina as Katy, Shang-Chi’s close friend; Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, and iconic Hong Kong acting veteran Tony Leung as The Mandarin. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, known for films such as “Short Term 12”, “The Glass Castle”, and “Just Mercy”. “Legend of the Ten Rings” marks Cretton’s first foray into the superhero genre.
Marvel and Disney are looking to make a splash at the summer box office, with “Black Widow” starting their summer slate and “Shang Chi” closing it out. With gorgeously choreographed martial arts action, and a brand new story that highlights the Asian community, this is, Simu Liu says on an Instagram post, an important milestone for the MCU. "Shang Chi is more than just a movie - it is a celebration of our culture and a rallying cry for the forgotten, the unseen, and the overlooked,” said Liu. “It is a reminder to take up space, to stand tall, and to be unapologetically ourselves."
“Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and Tony Leung, and is scheduled to release in theatres on September 3rd, 2021. Are you looking forward to a new story being told in the MCU? Check out the trailer and let us know in the comments down below!