Phase 4 of the MCU will see the return of beloved characters like Doctor Strange and Thor, but it will also introduce new heroes as well. One of the most exciting new additions coming to the MCU is Shang-Chi who will debut in his own solo film Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings.
Though not a household name, Shang-Chi is one of the most skilled fighters in the Marvel universe. Simu Liu will play the titular hero while Tony Leung will play the real Mandarin. Not much else is known at this point but there are plenty of rumors already swirling.
Hope Is True: No Origin Story
When the MCU first started, the studio seemed to think it was necessary to provide the origin story for every hero who hit the big screen. While some of these stories were worthwhile, the formula did get a little tiring over time.
Luckily, the MCU has more confidence in their characters now that origin stories are less important. That appears to be the case with Shang-Chi as it is rumored the film will avoid the origin route and tell a story about the already established her.
Hope Is Not True: Trevor Slattery To Appear
One of Iron Man 3. Mandarin is a famous villain from the comics, but that film repainted him as a drunk actor named Trevor Slattery hired to play the part of a terrorist mastermind.
Some found it to be a funny twist while others felt cheated. This film will introduce the real Mandarin as the main villain and some fans suspect this means Trevor will make an appearance to pay for his rouse. However, the character is so goofy, he might just end up taking away from the real Mandarin yet again.
Hope Is True: Fin Fang Foom
Another villain who is often associated with Iron Man has been rumored to make an appearance in this film as well. Fin Fang Foom is an ancient dragon who is awoken in China and wrecks havoc on the modern world.
Rumors suggest Fin Fang Foom will be used as the Mandarin's ultimate weapon. While it might be a bit tricky to pull off such an outlandish character, the MCU is really starting to embrace the weirdness in their movies. It could be a lot of fun to see them go all the way with this character.
Hope Is Not True: Fu Manchu To Appear
In the comics, part of Shang-Chi's background is that he is the son of Fu Manchu, the infamous villain of lore. Though his father is an evil mastermind, Shang-Chi turns his back on his father and actually fights to stop his nefarious plots of world domination.
There have been rumors that Shang-Chi's comic book father will appear in the film which has concerned many. Fu Manchu, though a well-known figure outside of comics, is quite an offensive racist caricature. Hopefully, Marvel recognizes this fact and avoid using him.
Hope Is True: The Mandarin Is Shang-Chi's Father
Despite the fact that Fu Manchu is a problematic character, his connection to Shang-Chi does provide an interesting personal dilemma in Shang-Chi's story. To have a hero have to fight against his even father is an interesting direction to explore.
Luckily, rumors suggest that this storyline will be explored albeit with a different take. It is said that Mandarin will be revealed as Shang-Chi's father and the hero will have to face his past to save the world. This could make for a very personal and powerful confrontation in the film.
Hope Is Not True: Fighting Tournament
Writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton has said that he is looking at classic kung-fu movies to inspire this film. That is a great idea and will hopefully give the movie a totally new feel that differentiates it from other superhero adventures. However, hopefully, they don't go too far in paying homage to the classics.
Rumors have come up that part of the storyline will involve Shang-Chi entering into a fighting tournament to Mandarin's inner circle and find out what he's up to. While this could be interesting, it does sound pretty cheesy and just an obvious attempt to callback to Enter the Dragon.
Hope Is True: Michelle Yeoh s The Cast
Shang-Chi will be Marvel's first Asian superhero to headline his own movie and it is a great step towards the MCU becoming more diverse. The movie is also said to include a predominantly Asian cast that already includes Simu Liu, Tony Leung, and Awkwafina.
Rumors of further casting suggest another exciting actor will be ing the film. Michelle Yeoh has been attached to the film for a significant role. Yeoh is a wonderful actor as well as one of the most impressive action movie stars of all time. Hopefully, the rumors are true and she gets an opportunity to kick butt in the film.
Hope Is Not True: Nick Fury Will Appear
Obviously, this movie is meant to only be Shang-Chi's introduction to the MCU with plenty more adventures to be had in future movies. It's probably a safe bet to say that he will eventually be sharing the screen with the other Avengers and become part of the team.
Some rumors suggest that Shang-Chi will be brought into the fold quite quickly with Nick Fury appearing in this film to recruit him. While it's fun to see Fury pop up from time to time, the whole recruiting gag feels played out. It's unnecessary to make such an obvious connection that might feel shoehorned in this story.
Hope Is True: Spy Movie
While classic martial arts movies are said to serve as an inspiration for this movie, that's apparently not the only genre that will be explored. The film will reportedly be a spy film with Shang-Chi working for MI-6 to infiltrate Mandarin's operations and stop him.
The MCU was a lot of fun using their heroes to tell stories from all kinds of different genres. The idea of a Marvel spy movie sounds like a whole lot of fun. It could be a great way of showing how much fun this hero can be.
Hope Is Not True: Team Movie
Along with the reported spy-movie angle of the film, it was also rumored that Shang-Chi will team up with other heroes to save the day. Specifically, it has been circulated that Shang-Chi will be aided by MI6 agents Clive Reston and Leiko Wu.
It's not surprising that Shang-Chi will have some allies in the film, as most heroes do, but hopefully, the team aspect of the film doesn't overshadow the main hero's own debut. We want to see Shang-Chi front-and-center without having to share the spotlight with other characters.
