Shang-Chi 2 Update From Simu Liu Includes Long-Term Franchise Outlook

Shang-Chi 2 was confirmed not long after the success of the first movie, and now star Simu Liu provides an update on the highly anticipated MCU sequel. Released last year, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a hit with audiences and critics alike, marking the first appearance of Liu's hero. The film follows Shang-Chi as he confronts dark elements of his past after becoming tangled in the activities of the Ten Rings criminal organization. Although a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was announced last year, details on the project have been hard to come by, and the film is absent from MCU's release slate for Phases 5 and 6.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, star Simu Liu provides an update on Shang-Chi 2. While the star isn't aware of any progress on the sequel, he confirms it's still very much going to happen, and even addresses his possible future as the character in the MCU. Check out Liu's full comment below:

I think I know as much as anyone else, right? There's going to be a sequel, I think that part was obvious but it was also made official. As far as when I think that's just a question of timing and how well my back holds up through the years. I'll make 40 of them if we can.

What Shang-Chi 2 Could Be About

Although little is officially known about the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed the first film, has been confirmed to return. Outside of Liu and Cretton's involvement, many questions remain about the movie, but the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings post-credit scene may provide a hint about what's to come. The short scene sees Liu's Shang-Chi and Awkwafina's Katy meeting with Wong (Benedict Wong), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) about the origin of the Ten Rings. The scene doesn't set up anything specific but does tease that Shang-Chi will interact more with other MCU heroes moving forward.

The MCU movies and shows in Phases 4 through 6, dubbed the Multiverse Saga, are all building towards 2026's Avengers: Secret Wars. When Marvel revealed its Phase 6 slate this past summer, there were a number of open slots that had yet to be filled, hinting that Shang-Chi 2 could come at some point before Avengers: Secret Wars. Since Liu's hero will seemingly play an important role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, it would make sense for a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to feature Shang-Chi getting to know other new and existing MCU superheroes, so that their dynamic is better established for the big team-up movies to come.

As for specific plot points for Shang-Chi 2, the introduction of Ta Lo in the first film provides some exciting possibilities for the sequel. The village exists in what is known as a "pocket" dimension, which could lead to a sequel more fully exploring the Chinese God Realms and the culture, politics, and people within them. Ta Lo also houses the Five Sets of Heavenly Weapons, of which the Ten Rings are a part, the introduction of which could significantly up the stakes in Shang-Chi 2. While the story for Shang-Chi 2 could go any number of directions, it's reasonable to assume that Awkwafina's Katy will also return in some capacity, with the chemistry between the two characters being a highlight of the original Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

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Source: ComicBook.com