The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding at a rapid pace and the first trailer for Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings demonstrates that Marvel Studios is preparing to head in a bold new direction. Based on this footage alone it appears that this franchise will combine both martial arts and mysticism in a way that hasn't been portrayed on screen before.
There are plenty of rumors and theories surrounding the project already, but with the release of this trailer, there's a number of ideas that could now be confirmed and countless new possible areas of speculation to discuss. From the characters involved, their relationships and the plot that may unfold, there's a lot to dig into thanks to the latest promotional material from Disney and Marvel.
The Existence Of The Ten Rings
Ever since the original Iron Man film, the Ten Rings has been alluded to. Originally presented as a criminal organization, it eventually took Iron Man 3 for there to be any mention of the Mandarin. However, the Ten Rings was still seen as a group, not a set of mystical weapons.
The trailer demonstrates a number of powers, with The Mandarin showcasing a wide range of abilities. The assumption is the Ten Rings will finally be presented as a group of objects; although it's unclear whether they will actually be rings or the wristbands seen worn in the trailer.
Other Magical Artifacts
There's a series of other objects, weapons, and artifacts throughout the trailer that may be magical in nature. Indeed, if the wrist bands are not part of the Ten Rings then they alone seem to be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. The same can be said for the blade weaponry on the villain Razor Fist's arm.
These artifacts are slightly similar to the magical objects seen in the Doctor Strange franchise so there may be some links here. Alternatively, much like the Ten Rings in the comics, perhaps these are all instances of advanced technology; after all the most amazing of tech can be mistaken for sorcery. A number of powerless characters could get upgrades thanks to this gear.
A Deadly Contest
There's a number of villains being brought together in this trailer, all of which seem to be competing with one another in a deadly contest. There have already been rumors that multiple characters from across the MCU could be participating in this challenge, which may see the winner gain a magical object.
Baron Mordo has been suggested for the competition for a long time. This narrative setup also explains the likes of Razor Fist's involvement as well as the reason as to why Shang-Chi would have to be brought back into the fold after a 10-year absence.
Links To The Previous Mandarin
The Mandarin's previous appearance in the MCU left a lot to be desired. The one-shot All Hail The King, addressed the issue head-on by teasing the existence of the real villain who will be appearing in Shang-Chi. The trailer presents Mandarin in his trademark throne in a similar manner to Trevor Slattery's version of the character.
Thanks to a number of similarities between the two portrayals, it could be suggested that the movie will address the previous 'fakes' that audiences were introduced to and maybe even show the fate of Trevor and how he knew so much about the crime lord to begin with. It's been theorized by fans for a while that Ben Kingsley could return in the role.
An Ancient Being
There are multiple shots throughout the trailer that seem to be of an ancient time. While Shang-Chi is set during the modern day, it's not out of the question for there to be some flashbacks to a bygone era. This may say something about the age of The Mandarin.
In the comics, The Mandarin is an ancient being and that could be the case here. It may be that the younger warrior in the trailer is a version of the villain during his early days. The Ten Rings could have preserved his life so that he has survived for thousands of years.
Links To Chinese Mythology
The Marvel Universe has often explored religion, mythology, and fables, intertwining all of these cultural stories and beliefs into their own narratives. Asgard and the existence of the Norse Gods of old is one example of this. Shang-Chi looks to be making its own connections though.
In the trailer, there are a number of lion looking beasts who are actually Foo Dogs. They are guardians in Chinese culture, although they have also spread to other areas of Asia including Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam amongst others. Their inclusion suggests the MCU could be moving into new territory in regards to its references to diverse cultures and mythology.
Family Feud
There looks to be the inclusion of Xialing in the trailer, who is known as Shang-Chi's sister. There's a fight featured in the trailer between the two siblings suggesting a feud has emerged between them. It could be something to do with Shang-Chi leaving home and their consequential separation.
Alternatively, it may be linked to the death of their mother, which is teased during the trailer thanks to a small shrine. Needless to say, with The Mandarin as their father there's definitely going to be some conflict in the family but it's unclear which side Xialing will fall on.
Death Dealer's Identity
One of the other characters that is heavily featured in the trailer is the villain known as Death Dealer. With a limited history in the comics, there's not a lot to go off of here, so the character could really be hiding something. The identity of the person under the mask is unknown.
It may actually be a female, which points to Shang-Chi's sister, or perhaps even his mother who never died at all. Alternatively, it may not even be relevant, with Death Dealer simply someone who is never unmasked but is still a vital part of the Ten Rings.
Zheng Zu
The trailer sets out the various relationships that are developing in the movie, with The Mandarin featured as Shang-Chi's father. In the comics, his dad is actually Zheng Zu, an ancient warrior who was once known as the famous Fu Manchu.
The trailer does depict an ancient civilization so there's definitely a possibility that Zheng Zu could be included in some way, perhaps still as Shang-Chi's father if he was adopted by the Ten Rings. In the comics, Zu actually has a range of magical abilities, explaining Shang-Chi's own powers.
An Iron Fist Crossover
It seems natural for fans to draw connections between the master of the martial arts and the character Iron Fist. With a version of Danny Rand appearing in the Marvel universe previously thanks to the Netflix series, there's a possibility of a crossover.
It's highly unlikely, but the trailer did demonstrate powers that looked oddly similar to that of the Iron Fist. Having the character or Colleen Wing, the Daughter of the Dragon, appear in the film would certainly create a scene that MCU fans would watch on repeat.