One of the most highly anticipated upcoming MCU releases is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, set to hit theaters on September 3 (pandemic permitting). Directed by Short Term 12’s Destin Daniel Crettin, the movie will introduce MCU fans to Kim’s Convenience’s Simu Liu as the titular Master of Kung Fu, as well as Tony Leung as the Mandarin and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan.
Its exploration of different corners of the MCU’s version of Earth could expand the worldbuilding significantly and create new storytelling opportunities for the franchise’s future. In these ways, the Shang-Chi movie could drastically change the MCU at large.
The Real Mandarin Could Become The MCU’s New Big Bad
With Thanos out of the picture, the MCU is in need of a new big bad. Some fans expected WandaVision to introduce Mephisto, and Kang the Conqueror has been cast to appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but maybe neither of them will be the new big bad.
Tony Leung has been cast to play the real Mandarin in the Shang-Chi movie, following Iron Man 3’s disappointing fake-out. Maybe he’ll be the MCU’s next big villain.
Martial Arts
There have been martial artists in the MCU, like Dave Bautista and Georges St-Pierre, as well as martial arts-inspired fight scenes featuring characters like Black Widow and Gamora, but the franchise has yet to make a full-blown martial arts movie.
Shang-Chi is a master martial artist and actor Simu Liu has a history of stunt work. The character’s first MCU solo movie can be a full-on martial arts actioner in the mold of Enter the Dragon or The Raid.
Tie Together All The Ten Rings Easter Eggs
The Ten Rings have yet to make a major appearance in the MCU. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be the first movie to prominently feature the iconic terrorist organization.
But they’ve been hinted at in the past. It was suggested that the Ten Rings were the ones who abducted Tony Stark in the Middle East in the first Iron Man movie, and one of Yellowjacket’s potential buyers in Ant-Man had a Ten Rings tattoo. The Shang-Chi movie can tie together all these Ten Rings Easter eggs.
A New Secret Avengers Line-Up
Between Civil War and Infinity War, when the Sokovia Accords were still in effect, Cap, Black Widow, and the Falcon assembled a Secret Avengers squad that kept up their superheroics on the down-low, so they could help people without getting arrested.
There’s a fan theory that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is establishing a new Secret Avengers line-up. In the comics, Shang-Chi has been affiliated with the Secret Avengers, so he could be a part of the new team.
Bring Back Iron Fist
There have been a few suggestions for how the MCU could incorporate the characters from the acclaimed Netflix series, whose rights have reverted back to Marvel Studios, like Matt Murdock representing Peter Parker in court or Jessica Jones teaming up with Carol Danvers.
Finn Jones’ Iron Fist could return in a team-up with Shang-Chi. As a pair of mystical Marvel characters with martial arts-based powers, Shang-Chi and Iron Fist are a classic duo in the comics.
Fin Fang Foom
Many Marvel fans have got Fin Fang Foom on their Shang-Chi movie wish list. The shapeshifting alien would certainly make an interesting addition to the MCU’s roster of live-action incarnations of outlandish comic book designs, like Ego’s planet-with-a-face look.
It’s possible that the Mandarin is being set up for a larger multi-movie role like Thanos, and will act as the puppet-master controlling the movie’s main villain from the shadows as the Mad Titan did with Loki in the first Avengers movie.
The Physical Ten Rings
One of the rumors floating around about the plot of the Shang-Chi movie is that it’ll be about a martial arts tournament, à la Mortal Kombat, in which the Ten Rings will be the grand prize.
In the MCU so far, the Ten Rings has been established as a terrorist organization, but since the Mandarin was egregiously revealed to be a fake in Iron Man 3, there’s been no mention of the actual, physical Ten Rings.
The Hand
The Hand was established as a terrifying force of antagonism in Netflix’s Daredevil series. It’s a legion of ninja warriors that can take out pretty much any target they’re sent to eliminate.
In the comics, Shang-Chi has battled the Hand’s ninjas a few times. If they’re brought back to fight Shang-Chi on the big screen, it could make for a spectacular action sequence.
Heroes For Hire
While the original Heroes for Hire team consisted only of Luke Cage and Iron Fist, there have since been a few Heroes for Hire squads. Shang-Chi was a member of the fourth incarnation of the team.
Shang-Chi’s version of the team featured such fan favorites as Spider-Man, Elektra, Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and the Punisher. It would be great to see this team-up in the MCU.
Shang-Chi Could Be A Major Player In Re-Establishing The Avengers
At the end of Avengers: Endgame, following Tony Stark’s sacrifice, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes disbanded. But the Avengers surely won’t be gone forever. Eventually, another Thanos-sized threat will come along and the team will need to assemble to fight it.
With Shang-Chi being introduced as a key figure in the post-Endgame MCU continuity, he could end up being a major player in re-establishing the Avengers when the time comes.