Shang-Chi 2: Cast, Story & Everything We Know

Summary

Shang-Chi's impactful solo debut set the stage for a mysterious but highly anticipated sequel, expanding the MCU timeline in a significant way.
Updates indicate the sequel may follow Marvel's Avengers projects, while fans eagerly await casting details and storyline tidbits.
Shang-Chi 2's narrative remains a tantalizing mystery, with potential connections to Ta-Lo's hidden world and broader MCU arcs sparking fan theories.

Shang-Chi 2 is happening, though little is known about the anticipated MCU movie and its potential release date, story, or returning cast. Shang-Chi was one of the first characters Marvel Studios planned to introduce when plans for what became the MCU began in the mid-2000s. Unfortunately, it wasn't until 2021 that Shang-Chi finally managed to get his own solo film on the big screen, but Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings formally introduced Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) to the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline in a big way — one which more than creates room for the impending Shang-Chi 2.

In his debut movie, Shang Chi was joined by his best friend Katy (Awkwafina), his sister Xialing (Meng'er Zhang), his father Wenwu (Tony Leung), and his aunt Ying Nan (Michelle Yeoh). Ultimately, it culminated in him going to Kamar-Taj and potentially being recruited to become an Avenger — or at least being put on their radar. But that's only the beginning, as the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ending set up a huge future for him, Katy, Xialing, and the Ten Rings organization in Shang-Chi 2.

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Latest Shang-Chi 2 News

While Shang-Chi 2 is confirmed, there's been little in the way of hard news around the sequel to Simu Liu's MCU debut, though The Direct did report in February 2023 that Shang-Chi 2 is allegedly now on Marvel Studio's production calendar. It's not listed on Marvel's current MCU Phase 5 and 6 lineup, although it may be one of the "secret" unconfirmed projects attached to a handful of unannounced MCU movies in 2024 and 2025.

Only four movies are currently announced for MCU Phase 6 - Fantastic Four, Blade Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning several other movies are expected to be announced.

However, there has been some other Shang-Chi 2 news worth noting since it was initially confirmed. In July 2023, Simu Liu stated after being asked about Shang-Chi 2 that he "was told it would follow Avengers, but that keeps pushing back due to circumstances beyond my control", also mentioning that he "hope[d] to have more concrete news to share soon." This suggests that Shang-Chi returns in the sequel after Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, or Avengers: Secret Wars, with the latter meaning that audiences wouldn't see another Shang-Chi movie until after the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.

Also, Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton stepped down from directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in November 2023, though he remains attached to the Wonder Man Disney+ series and Shang-Chi 2. In February 2024, Shang-Chi lead Simu Liu clarified that he's unsure if he's in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty but assured fans that Shang-Chi 2 is still very much in the works. However, no concrete details about timing were given. Read his comments below (via ComicBook):

Oh man, I don't know to be honest. I mean, those things are so above my pay grade. I just wanna continue to be a fan of it. You know, when I get a call of like, 'Hey, this is what you're in and this is where you're going to show up. And, this is when you're going to be need to be blacked out for.' That's kind of generally what tends to happen. But, you know Destin is such a special filmmaker and we're very happy to have him on the sequel. So, he'll be working on that and we're really excited to see what he comes up with. I think he's going to do a brilliant job.

Shang-Chi 2 Confirmed & Release Date Information

Katy learning archery in Ta Lo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

When Marvel Studios released their slate of Phase 5 and 6 movies, Shang-Chi 2 wasn’t among them. Deadline broke the news in December 2021 that a sequel is definitely on the way, but there is no release date yet. That could be due to director Deston Daniel Cretton being the only confirmed creative behind the scenes so far.

Though Crettin is no longer directing Avengers 5, it’s still unlikely that Shang-Chi 2 is coming anytime soon based on Liu's comments that he still hasn't gotten a solid filming window to be available for. As such, it seems most likely that Shang-Chi 2 will arrive sometime in 2026 or later. However, it's possible Shang-Chi could appear in a different project first.

Shang-Chi 2 Cast Prediction

Meng'er Zhang's Xu Xialing and Simu Liu's Shang Chi have a walking conversation in Ta Lo in Shang Chi

Shang-Chi 2 will, of course, see Simu Liu return as Shang-Chi and Awkwafina as Katy, since they're the core duo in the first film and were brought into the world of superheroes by Wong. Michelle Yeoh might also return as Shang-Chi's aunt, though she is, so far, unconfirmed, as is the case for most of the cast. Meng'er Zhang should also return now that she's the head of the MCU's Ten Rings organization, even though she doesn't have the actual Ten Rings - her brother does.

Benedict Wong has become the connective tissue for the MCU, making several appearances outside the Doctor Strange franchise. His appearance in the first Shang-Chi movie featured the character battling Abomination in an underground fight club for powered individuals, which paid off with appearances from both characters in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law on Disney+, but the second appearance from the character could be paid off in Shang-Chi 2.

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Wong has become an integral part of what is left of the Avengers organization in the MCU. Wong appeared at the end of Shang-Chi to question the titular character and his friend Katy about the properties of the Ten Rings. Just where the Ten Rings originated in the MCU could be a storyline that will involve Wong and his expertise in magical artifacts.

Shang-Chi 2 Story Details

Xu Xialing taking over the Ten Rings in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi 2's story is the biggest wildcard. Marvel isn't always setting up direct sequels anymore; instead, one movie may lead into a TV show, and vice versa. So, Shang-Chi 2 may not have anything to do with what actually happened in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. One thing that should see more screen time in Shang-Chi 2, though, is Ta-Lo and the history of Shang-Chi's hidden world. There's so much there that remains unanswered, and his learning about his powers — not just those that come from the Ten Rings — would be crucial to his characterization.

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Right now, all the potential story details for Shang-Chi 2 are rooted in fan theories and speculation. There is a possibility that Shang-Chi 2 could be one of the as-yet-unannounced Phase 6 movies. That could mean his story could tie into the larger Avengers: The Kang Dynasty storyline. Without more information from Marvel, however, fan theories will only continue building about the possible Shang-Chi 2 story.