The Marvel Cinematic Universe is releasing their first movie with an Asian lead protagonist with Shang-Chi. Destin Daniel Cretton will direct the movie based on the comic books Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, though Marvel has released a little information concerning what fans can expect.
With Shang-Chi, those fans who cried out for an Asian hero to lead the way in Netflix's Iron Fist will finally get their wish. Not only that, but Deadline reports that the movie will not rely on antiquated stereotypes.
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Chinese-American screenwriter Dave Callaham will pen the script. Callahan co-wrote the script for DC's Wonder Woman 1984, so this isn't his first superhero movie. Callahan also has experience writing about diverse superheroes, as he is penning the script for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2.
Callahan's script will be set in the modern era. Modernizing the hero could help Marvel avoid offensive tropes seen in many of the early comic book appearances of Shang-Chi. Similar to characters like Luke Cage and the villain the Mandarin, who were also changed for their live-action appearances, Marvel wants to avoid stereotypes for Shang-Chi and brought in Callahan to avoid relying on cliches.
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Shang-Chi is the son of a globalist in China, closed off from the outside world. He studies martial arts and becomes a superior master, but when his dad sends him out to do his bidding, he learns that his father is not a good person, is known as the Devil's Doctor among his peers and might be immortal.
Shang-Chi is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, based on a script by Dave Callaham. There is no cast or release date yet for this upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film.