Producer Jonathan Schwartz explained why Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings didn't dwell too much on the effects of the blip and Thanos' snap. Simu Liu plays Marvel's Master of Kung Fu in the MCU's latest theatrical release and first Phase 4 film to take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Liu is joined by Tony Leung, who plays Wenwu/The Mandarin, Shang-Chi's estranged father and leader of the mysterious Ten Rings organization, while Awkwafina stars as Katy, Shang-Chi's best friend who is unaware of his past. They are also joined by Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Benedict Wong, and Florian Munteanu.

When Shang's past catches up to him, Liu's character must reckon with his estranged family and step into his role as a new hero in the MCU. Shang-Chi is the second movie to introduce new characters into the franchise after Black Widow officially inducted Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova into the pantheon. November's Eternals will also introduce a new slate of characters with its titular immortal alien race comprised of a new group of heroes that are likely to take the MCU by storm alongside Shang-Chi. Still, as Phase 4 continues to unfold, the effects of the snap are being felt across the franchise.

Related: Shang-Chi Cast & Character Guide: All New & Returning MCU Actors

Shang-Chi doesn't touch on this subject too much, though, and there's a reason for that. Schwartz explained in an interview with The Direct that while they felt it was important to at least acknowledge that it happened, they really wanted to focus on the story of Shang-Chi and its titular character, fleshing out the world and story to give him his proper due. By not focusing too much on the blip, Marvel wanted to ensure audiences stayed well within the story being told rather than focusing on the overarching plot at hand. Check out his full thoughts below:

I think the idea was that we wanted to orient the audiences so that people know the movie is taking place after Endgame, but we also don’t want to dwell on the events of Endgame too much. There’s so much story to tell with Shang-Chi, there’s so much to get the audiences into that’s unique to this movie, that we wanted to keep people’s heads in the story that was unfolding before them, and not then how it related to stories that have already been told.

Shang Chi looking to the distance in Shang Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings.

Most of Marvel's post-Avengers: Endgame projects have focused on the aftermath of both Thanos' and Hulk's snaps. The only one that doesn't is Black Widow, which takes place before the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Otherwise, shows like WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki all firmly address the events of the Infinity Saga capper and the toll it takes on the heroes they focus on. Wanda Maximoff is still reeling from her grief at the loss of Vision, while Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are dealing with the loss of Steve Rogers and the changing world around them.

Ultimately, though, it seems that not focusing too much on the blip is a good thing for Shang-Chi. While audiences are already familiar with heroes like Wanda, Loki, Sam, and Bucky, Shang is a completely new character and should get the time to shine on his own before he becomes intertwined within the larger machinations of Phase 4 of the MCU. Thankfully, Shang-Chi does just that, allowing for the character to flourish without the added pressure of a 24-movie history to live up to.

More: Why Shang-Chi Is The Real Beginning Of Phase 4 Movies (Not Black Widow)

Source: The Direct

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