MCU Phase 4: Shang-Chi Movie In Development
Could this be Marvel's next Avenger?
In a week that's already brought a brand-new look at Captain Marvel and threatens to provide our first glimpses of Avengers 4 AND Spider-Man: Far From Home, Deadline have also gone ahead and reported that Shang-Chi - Marvel's very own Master of Kung Fu - will star in a film of his own in the highly anticipated fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wonder Woman 1984's Dave Callaham will write the script, while Marvel search for a director of "Asian descent" to helm the feature.
But who is Shang-Chi? Originally created in 1973 by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin, Shang-Chi was born out of Marvel's acquisition of the Fu-Manchu license, and is actually the son of that character. However, we can probably expect that to change for the film, with Manchu less a compelling villain, and more of a racist caricature best confined to history books than to the next big Marvel blockbuster.
Chi, born in the People's Republic of China, has been depicted in various different ways over the years. Sometimes a secret agent, at others an immigrant who protects those in New York's Chinatown, the character has always been proficient in hand-to-hand combat and has oft been considered the most skilful martial artist in the Marvel Universe.
According to Deadline's report, Marvel are apparently keen to replicate the success of Black Panther by "[introducing] a new hero who blends Asian and Asian American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian American filmmakers." It all sounds very exciting, and with the way Phase 4 is building up so far - with Spider-Man: Far From Home, Black Widow and the Eternals the only confirmed releases - it certainly looks as though it's setting itself up to be one of the most unique stages in the franchise yet.