Simu Liu, who stars in next year's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, recently shared photos revealing his Marvel movie bodybuilding skills. If Marvel's release date schedule stays as it is now, Shang-Chi will be among the company's first projects to debut in over a year. It's currently set to release July 9, 2021, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4. Shang-Chi's date has changed a couple times due to the coronavirus, though it's managed to stay in 2021. With Disney's announcement of the July release came the news Shang-Chi and Eternals had swapped places in the lineup, with Shang-Chi now coming out before the fellow MCU movie.

Like with Eternals, fans are interested in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings partly because so much of it remains a mystery. Liu will play the title character and Master of Kung-Fu. In the movie, Shang-Chi will battle the Mandarin (Tony Leung) and his infamous Ten Rings organization. However, aside from those two characters, Marvel has yet to confirm any other roles. Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh are both part of Shang-Chi as well, but it isn't known for sure who they will be playing. This has increased speculation about the film, which wrapped production in October.

Related: Where You Know Shang-Chi's Actor Simu Liu From

Liu has been open about his excitement for Shang-Chi on social media, including his new status as a Marvel superhero. Recently, the actor shared some photos celebrating his fitness journey, including the mantra "Rehabilitate; Recover; RETURN." Check out Liu's post below:

Liu isn't alone in posting photos of his physique after joining the MCU. It's practically a rite of passage for most Marvel actors, with Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani famously posting shirtless pictures last year. After the photos went viral, Nanjiani shared a nuanced response to the positive reception, saying he was "very, very grateful," but admitting "you get a weird body dysmorphia when the whole world is concentrating on how you look." Fitness photos in general have been under scrutiny in recent years, though with both Liu and Nanjiani, they seem more about celebrating the hard work put in than anything else.

Aside from the pictures, Liu's caption on his post could hint at what's to come for the star. His mention of an upcoming journey, as well as the hashtag "#StayTuned," could reference an upcoming project. However, it also may relate to Liu working toward another fitness milestone. Either way, the actor's post should only increase excitement for his performance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings next year.

More: Who Is Shang-Chi? Marvel's New Asian Superhero Explained

Source: Simu Liu