Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will release on Disney+ on November 12th, 2021. The film is currently in theaters and stars Simu Liu as the famed Marvel hero, Shang-Chi. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi follows the titular character as he must confront his past, including his estranged father, Wenwu, who carries the mysterious and powerful ten rings, a weapon that could destroy everything if not stopped in time. The film co-stars Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, Benedict Wong, Florian Munteanu, and Meng'er Zhang.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has thus far been a box office success, beating out pandemic fears and luring audiences back to theaters for three straight weeks in the top spot, pulling in a $305 million global haul (and counting). It's the second film in the beginning of the MCU's Phase 4 and the first live-action iteration of the popular Marvel Comics character. Created in 1973 by Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, Shang-Chi, aka The Master of Kung-Fu, has been a mainstay in the comics arena ever since and is now on his way to becoming a household name with the success of the film.

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Now comes word from Disney+ that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will debut exclusively on Disney+ on November 12th, as part of a special Disney+ Day celebration, which will include several debuts, sneak peeks, previews, and more from the studio's streaming service. This shortened theatrical window equals roughly two-and-half months, aligning with the new post-pandemic window of 45-60 days from theatrical to streaming. It's unclear when the film will be available for purchase, but Disney+ subscribers can begin streaming the movie on November 12th.

Shang Chi Trailer Fighting Stance

The Disney+ Day is a global celebration that will also take place on November 12th, which will see a number of special debuts for subscribers with a focus on their many brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star in international markets. CEO Bob Chapek calls the inaugural event "a grand-scale celebration" that will become "an annual tentpole event" for the service. MCU fans can also look forward to a special that will celebrate the MCU on Disney+ with "an exciting look towards the future." 

Chapek initially called Shang-Chi's theatrical release model an "experiment" in terms of holding it back from Premier access (despite Simu Liu's push back that it was not an experiment). Still, regardless of how that was interpreted, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is most definitely a success. With another month and a half left in theaters, the film is sure to rack up a nice chunk of change for the studio, even under the pandemic balloon. The film will likely surpass Black Widow's overall box office, which is still a source of strife for actress Scarlett Johansson, who has a lawsuit against the studio for the handling of the release. With the constant shuffle of titles and the smaller theatrical window in effect, it'll be interesting to see how these debuts will work after the dust settles.

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Source: Disney+

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