The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest hero, Shang-Chi, made his debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Sept. 3. The film’s official synopsis tells audiences that Shang-Chi must “confront the past he thought he left behind” when he finds himself becoming tangled in the Ten Rings organization’s web once again. As the MCU’s first leading Asian hero, the film represents Marvel Studios’ push for diversity on and off the screen and an attempt to enrich the existing universe. In Black Widow, audiences saw a sliver of the criminal underbelly that runs throughout the universe, but Shang-Chi takes audiences even deeper into that world and shows a previously ignored aspect of the MCU.
Originally supposed to be released on Feb. 12, 2021, the first day of the Chinese New Year (a marketing tactic that goes hand-in-hand with the Chinese hero), Shang-Chi will finally make its way to theaters seven months later on Sept. 3, 2021. It is already in theaters and will not be afforded a concurrent streaming release through the Premier Access program on Disney+. The film has done spectacularly well with audiences and critics alike due to its comedic timing, martial arts fight scenes and uber-talented cast.
Keep up to date on the latest MCU film, including its release date, trailers, featurettes, plot and news, right here on CBR’s Shang-Chi Hub Page.
Marvel Studios Declares Shang-Chi the MCU's Newest Avenger
Shang-Chi Cast, Crew and Interviews
Director Destin Daniel Cretton, himself a Japanese-American man, actively worked with the source material, taking away some of its more problematic and racist elements to (hopefully) put forth a story that will speak to the Asian diaspora. He and Dave Callaham teamed up to write the screenplay as well. The film is led by Simu Liu in the titular role, Tony Leung as his father Wenwu/The Mandarin and Awkwafina as his friend Katy. Also in the supporting cast is Michelle Yeoh -- who was previously in Guardian of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 as Aleta -- as Jiang Nan, Benedict Wong returning in his Doctor Strange role Wong and Florian Munteanu as Razor Fist.
- Shang-Chi Star Says He Wasn't Reprimanded for Slamming Disney CEO's 'Experiment' Comment
- Shang-Chi Writer Thinks the Film Can Change the Way People View Marvel Movies
- No, Simu Liu Didn't Land the Role Because of a Tweet
- Shang-Chi Director Shares Advice He Received From Ryan Coogler
- Shang-Chi Director Had to Cut One Fight Scene He Hopes to Use Later
- Shang-Chi Fight Scenes Channel Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Jackie Chan
- Shang-Chi Star Teases Her Unexplored Backstory: 'She Has More Power'
- Awkwafina Actually Learned How to Drift for the Role
- Shang-Chi Actually Filmed Razor Fist's Origin, Other Scenes
- Shang-Chi Reveals the Real-Life Inspiration Behind Morris
Shang-Chi News & Reviews
Early social media buzz and initial reviews characterize Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as one of the best movies in the MCU because of its creative martial arts sequences, the performances and a compelling script. The film is currently "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critics' score of 92 percent and a whopping audience score of 98 percent. Its success is even credited with the release date of Venom: Let There Be Carnage being moved up. Here, you'll find an ongoing list of reviews and initial reactions for the film both ahead and after its release.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Brings Martial Arts Fun to the MCU
- Shang-Chi Barely Avoids Repeating an Age-Old Hollywood Mistake
- Shang-Chi Is a Remix of the MCU's Biggest Tropes - But Not a Rehash
- Shang-Chi Features the MCU's Latest Bad Dad Story - and Actually Explores It
- Shang-Chi Is the MCU's Most Popular Movie Ever According to Rotten Tomatoes
- Shang-Chi Pulls Impressive Box Office Numbers in Its Opening Weekend
- Shang-Chi Rises to Global Box-Office Milestone
- Shang-Chi Set to Surpass Black Widow at the Box Office
Shang-Chi Easter Eggs and MCU References
As the twenty-fifth installment in a thirteen-year-in-the-making franchise, Shang-Chi is full of Easter eggs and call-backs to previous MCU films. Since all of the films and shows in the MCU are interconnected, here's what the known Easter eggs and references mean for the film and for the future of the franchise.
- Every MCU Easter Egg & Comic Reference in Shang-Chi
- Shang-Chi Reveals the Sad Fate of the Fake Mandarin
- When Does Shang-Chi Take Place in the MCU Timeline?
- Shang-Chi Producer Explains How the Film Handles the Blip
- Which MCU Films to Watch Before Shang-Chi
- Shang-Chi’s Connection to the MCU's First Film, Explained by Kevin Feige
- Every Mythological Creature in Marvel's Shang-Chi
- Shang-Chi Cements Wong as the MCU's New Coulson
- Who Wins the Abomination-Wong Fight?
- The Ten Rings Is What Hydra Failed to Become
- Shang-Chi Reveals What Became of One Black Widow
- Who Is Shang-Chi's Dragon? The Great Protector's Role & Fate, Explained
- Shang-Chi Reveals Iron Man 3's Villain Wasn't Lying
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Newest Dark God Is Much Stronger in Comics
- Shang-Chi's Most Impactful Death Ruins Its Plot Twist
- Shang-Chi Pays Homage to Two Jackie Chan Classics
- Every Time the Ten Rings Appeared in the MCU
- Shang-Chi's Ten Rings Originally Resembled Their Comic Book Counterparts More Closely
- MCU Concept Artist Shares First Approved Shang-Chi Design
Shang-Chi Theories and Rumors
What have fans been saying about Shang-Chi now that it's been released? Read some theories about what's next for the MCU because of the events that unfolded in the film here.
- What Shang-Chi's Mid-Credits Scene Means for the MCU
- Shang-Chi’s Mid-Credits Scene May Tease a Long-Awaited Marvel Villain
- How Shang-Chi's Post-Credits Scene Sets Up A Sequel
- Shang-Chi May Set the Stage for the MCU's Illuminati
- Shang-Chi Doesn't Introduce Fin Fang Foom - It's Something Bigger
- The MCU May Make Captain America/Sam Wilson and Shang-Chi Rivals
- Shang-Chi's Lore May Tease a Connection to Iron Fist
- Shang-Chi's Biggest Plot Holes and Unanswered Questions
- The Philosophy at the Heart of Shang-Chi
- The Sad Truth Behind Shang-Chi's Ten Rings Insignia
- Shang-Chi: Katy Became the MCU's Mulan - and Took Aim at a Toxic Trope
- Shang-Chi's Martial Arts Tell a Beautiful Hidden Story
- How Shang-Chi Avoids Doctor Strange's Orientalist Narrative
- MCU Theory: Shang-Chi's Big Bad May Pull the Strings of Doctor Strange 2