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| Chinese Canadian Simi Liu will play the role of Shang-Chi. |
One of the biggest reveals was the actor who will play Shang-Chi.who will become the first Asian superhero with a film of his own. Marvel picked Canadian actor Simu Liu, best known for his role in the Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience.
Also joining the movie will be Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell star Awkwafina and veteran actor Tony Leung.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said the movie's full title would be Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and would be hitting theaters in Feb. 12, 2021.
Marvel conducted "a really in-depth search to find someone that will capture all the dimensions that he deserves," noted director Destin Daniel Cretton just before announcing and bringing Liu onto the stage.
"I was cast on Tuesday," Liu said the lightning fast process that brought him to Hall H. "I screen-tested on Sunday in New York. This is the the craziest, craziest dream." He also said that his parents came to Canada 25 years ago with almost nothing but a hope to build a life for their family and "all I've ever wanted was to make them proud."
Hopefully, having an Asian American director will help correct some of the stereotypes that the comic book depended on for Shang-Chi.
Created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin in 1973, the writers depended on all the mystical stereotypes in vogue at time, the midst of the cheaply made chop-socky movies and the TV series Kung Fu for all the lore and backstory for Shang-Chi.
The martial arts master was supposedly trained by his father ... uh, ... Fu Manchu, the ultimate in stereotypes.
The upcoming movie, expected to premiere on Feb. 12, 2021, offers the opportunity for Marvel and Cretton to bring the character up to date. To hell with the fanboys who cling to the stereotypes of the original pulp hero.
Feige also laid what the ComicCon attendees can expect in the next few years from Marvel, one of the richest source materials and box office treasure chest for Hollywood.
- Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johanssen, will be released May 1, 2020.
- Mahershala Ali would be joining the MCU as Blade, the vampire hunter that was played by Wesley Snipes in three movies previously.
- The Eternals will follow on Nov. 6, 2020. The audience roared is approval as the cast came on stage including Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikarus, as well as Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek as Ajax, Lia McHugh and Don Lee as Gilgamesh. Asian American Chloé Zhao is directing the film.
- Natalie Portman will portray a female Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder, and will debut Nov. 5, 2021 helmed by Maori filmmaker Taika Waititi.
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will hit theaters May 7, 2022.
- In addition, Disney+, the studio's new streaming channel, will debut later this year and will feature several series starring Marvel's seemingly endless rollcall of superheroes, aliens and gods.
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