The announcement of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty's director could have a major impact on Shang-Chi 2. Marvel Studios' unveiling of the Multiverse Saga at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 came with several big surprises. The confirmation of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars releasing in the same year was among the biggest. Marvel and Kevin Feige did not reveal too much information about either upcoming Avengers movie, but reports quickly circulated that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton will tackle Avengers 5.
Destin Daniel Cretton directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is certainly great news for the upcoming sequel. He has only made Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel Studios so far, but that movie proved how capable he is of delivering major action set pieces and a compelling story within the MCU. Shang-Chi's 91% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the movie's strong box office performance during the pandemic showed just how well audiences responded to it too. Marvel Studios has kept Destin Daniel Cretton around as a result, with a Wonder Man Disney+ series among the other MCU projects he is developing before directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
As exciting as Destin Daniel Cretton's Avengers 5 director announcement is, it likely means some changes are coming for Shang-Chi 2. Cretton agreed to return to write and direct a Shang-Chi sequel in late 2021, and it was expected that the Simu Liu-led MCU movie would come rather quickly. The announcement that Destin Daniel Cretton is directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty complicates this. Shang-Chi 2 was not part of the Multiverse Saga slate of announcements, and it is now difficult to imagine Cretton directing the sequel and then immediately moving on to Avengers 5. This could mean that the highly anticipated MCU sequel will either be delayed or see someone other than Cretton at the helm.
Will Shang-Chi 2 Be Released In The Multiverse Saga?
The lack of an update on Shang-Chi 2 when Marvel unveiled the Multiverse Saga slate makes more sense after Destin Daniel Cretton's priorities have seemingly shifted to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. There is also just not a lot of room for the Shang-Chi sequel in the slate now. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ends Phase 4 in 2022, while the entirety of Phase 5 is already announced. There are some vacant release dates for Phase 6 MCU movies, but it either means Shang-Chi 2 will come out a few months before Avengers 5 hits theaters or only a few months later. Those 2025 release dates would mean Shang-Chi's sequel arrives four years after the first film, which is quite normal for the MCU. If the sequel is not necessary for the overall plans, Marvel could wait to release Shang-Chi 2 until after the Multiverse Saga and make it possible for Cretton to direct it.
Shang-Chi 2 Could Get Another Asian Director
If Marvel does want another Shang-Chi solo film in the Multiverse Saga and Cretton's schedule is too busy, the most likely scenario is that another Asian filmmaker tackles Shang-Chi 2. Destin Daniel Cretton could remain involved as a producer and through writing the script, but most of his focus in the years to come will be on Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and setting up Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel could use this as an opportunity to give another Asian filmmaker the same opportunity they gave Cretton. This might even mean revisiting conversations with runners-up to direct the first film, such as Justin Tipping, Alan Yang, and Obi-Wan Kenobi's Deborah Chow. Shang-Chi 2 would be in good hands with any of these names if Destin Daniel Cretton can no longer tackle the sequel.
