Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduces the eponymous martial arts superhero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the upcoming MCU film, there are glimpses of Shang-Chi's troubled childhood. The young Master of Kung Fu is portrayed by Jayden Zhang in his debut film role. Zhang's Shang-Chi follows the hero's harsh upbringing under his father, Wenwu, after the tragic death of his mother, Ying Li, and how this affects his destiny.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Zhang discussed what it was like getting to work with Shang-Chi's veteran cast and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He also shared how his experiences helped him land the role of the young Master of Kung Fu and what he hoped he brought to the MCU role and to the overall film.
Jayden, how did the opportunity to portray young Shang-Chi come about?
Jayden Zhang: One day, my agent sent me a self-tape request, and there were two requirements for the job that I luckily fulfilled: being fluent in Mandarin Chinese and having martial arts experience. We had no idea what I was even auditioning for because there wasn't even a project name! I sent the self-tape in, and for a few months, we received no reply at all. So I just assumed I didn't get the role and forgot all about it; but then, a few months later, when I was coming home from school, my mom told me that I had gotten the role. I was so excited because Shang-Chi was my first acting job ever, and it was a Marvel movie!
Were there any mannerisms or habits from Simu Liu that you wanted to include with your performance?
Simu is an amazing actor and he is so devoted to the role of Shang-Chi. I remember watching Simu during one of his scenes, and I could tell he played his role with so much passion, which inspired me to try and bring the same passion into my performance as well.
How was it working with Destin Daniel Cretton on this project?
It was so fun working with Destin on this project! He is a brilliant director and he would coach me through all my scenes beforehand to make sure I felt as comfortable as possible while shooting.
A lot of your scenes are with Tony Leung and Fala Chen. How was it working with them?
It was such an honor to be able to work with world-class actors and actresses, especially in my first film ever. Both Tony and Fala are extremely talented performers, and they were able to immerse themselves in their characters so well. In a way, they made my job easier. I was able to learn from the way they were acting and adapt and improve my own skills accordingly.
The sets in this film are gorgeous. How was it getting to work on them?
It was super fun getting to work on all the different sets! All the sets were so realistic, and if nobody told me I was actually on set, I probably wouldn't have even known! I was allowed to explore some of the bigger sets, and it surprised me how much detail burst out in every corner of each set. The set designers did a truly amazing job.
What are you excited about getting to add to Shang-Chi's character and the overall movie with your performance?
I am excited to be a part of bringing clarity to Shang-Chi's past, which will be important, especially given the fact that this film is about Shang-Chi's backstory. I am also excited to be able to add some lightheartedness and fun to this action-packed film.
Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters on Sept. 3.