Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Tony Leung revealed how he approached the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie's version of the Mandarin.
While speaking to /Film, Leung discussed the circumstances that led to his choice in how he would portray the villain, named Wenwu in the film. "When [Marvel] offered me the role, what they wanted was for me to create a brand new Mandarin, so I got to develop my character along with the filming," he began. "I’ve never approached Wenwu from a villain’s standpoint. Rather, I tried to explore the reasons that led him to become who he is."
Leung went on to describe the Mandarin as "a man with a history, who craves to be loved," and that he is "human, and he has a family." He concluded, "As I read [the script], I began to consider the many reasons why he’d turn out the way he is — a sociopath, a narcissist, a bigot."
Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton had previously talked about Leung's take on the character, saying, "A character like Wenwu could have easily been a one-dimensional villain with no heart. Tony opened this character up [so] this is an antagonist who has a deep ability to love."
Simu Liu stars as Shang-Chi in Marvel Studios' latest film. Fans will see Shang-Chi confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization, run by his father, Wenwu. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters on Sept. 3, 2021.
Source: /Film