Marvel pushed back Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to a September release date. Set to star Simu Liu, Shang-Chi will be the first MCU entry with an Asian protagonist, and fans have eagerly been awaiting its debut. Alongside Liu, Awkwafina (The Farewell), Tony Leung (Happy Together), and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) are all set to star. Marvel also brought in a predominantly Asian behind-the-scenes crew that will help to tell the origin story of Marvel's Master of Kung Fu.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was first announced at 2019's San Diego Comic-Con when Kevin Feige began laying out what the MCU's Phase 4 would look like. The film was initially set for a February 12, 2021 release date, the first day of the Chinese New Year. Shang-Chi was subsequently pushed back to May 7 before Black Widow took that spot, landing on the July 9 release date that many thought would finally come to pass. Now, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been delayed for the third time.
Shang-Chi will debut in theaters on September 3. Black Widow, which was set for May 7, will now debut on Shang-Chi's previous release date. Additionally, Black Widow will debut on Disney+'s Premier Access platform for an additional fee. Shang-Chi is still expected to have a traditional theatrical release.
With Marvel set to debut four films this year, there's little wiggle room when it comes to the theatrical release schedule. When one domino falls, the rest will likely have to follow suit. It's unclear if the recent delays will affect the release of Eternals or Spider-Man: No Way Home, set for November 5 and December 17, respectively. With Black Widow going to Disney+, it seems the studio has bit the bullet and is at least intent on getting the Scarlett Johansson film on screens as soon as possible to avoid any further disruptions.
The Disney+ release of Black Widow will also allow Marvel to see just how a tentpole of that size will perform on the Premier Access platform. While Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon have both premiered on the streamer, the MCU's audience is much larger than those films, and it will be interesting to see how this move plays out. Shang-Chi's September release also seems like a safe bet as vaccines continue to roll out across the country. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be a bit different in that it heralds in the debut of a new hero, unlike Black Widow. Marvel is likely hoping to capitalize that, which is undoubtedly one reason behind the delay as they begin to introduce a new generation of superheroes to audiences.
Source: Disney