It has been five years since Marvel introduced Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, yet the character has not returned prominently within the MCU, leaving fans puzzled. Questions linger about the reasons behind Marvel’s decision to keep this hero largely out of sight despite the positive reception of Simu Liu Shang-Chi MCU.
Fan Reactions to Simu Liu’s MCU Role and Recent Work
Following Liu’s performance in Peacock’s thriller series The Copenhagen Test, viewers expressed confusion and admiration on platforms like Reddit. One fan highlighted Liu’s charismatic presence, noting his humor and leadership qualities, while questioning Marvel’s failure to further develop Shang-Chi’s storylines after his 2021 debut.
He’s funny, grounded, and has real leading-man presence,
iF4RT3D wrote.
What I don’t get is why Marvel never really followed through on Shang Chi stories? Was this a scheduling issue, internal strategy shift, or just Marvel overestimating how long they could keep characters on the shelf? Curious how others interpret this, because in it feels like a huge missed opportunity.
Other users echoed this sentiment. One said,
Yeah, Simu Liu fuck*n* rocks. Absolutely has what it takes to lead,
while another insisted,
Simu Liu probably could’ve been the next RDJ/Evans for MCU if they used him properly. He was young and pretty universally loved after Barbie. Such a waste.
Appreciation for Shang-Chi’s Cultural and Action Elements
Fans also praised the distinctive fighting style presented in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, highlighting its fresh approach to action choreography compared to the MCU’s usual Western styles. The film’s cultural representation of Asian and Chinese heritage also resonated deeply with viewers, who felt a connection to the characters’ family dynamics.
The fighting and choreography is the most beautiful I’ve seen in the MCU. It’s great to have an eastern style of action in a franchise filled with western style action,
noted one fan.
Plus I love that they delved into Asian and Chinese culture a bit. I saw a lot of my mom and dad in Shang Chi’s parents. I really resonated with the movie. I felt represented, and we rarely get a male Asian lead in Hollywood.
Potential Reasons for Shang-Chi’s Lack of MCU Presence
Many commenters speculated that the COVID-19 pandemic, along with writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton’s departure from the now-canceled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, contributed to Marvel’s sidelining of Shang-Chi. Some fans suggested that Marvel’s reluctance to fully trust new characters left promising heroes underutilized in favor of established ones.
Marvel simply didn’t trust their new characters to perform as well, which is why so many characters who should’ve been the face of the next saga were sidelined and underutilized,
another fan proposed.
Simu Liu’s Upcoming Return and Future Prospects
Fortunately for fans eager to see more of Shang-Chi, Simu Liu is confirmed to reprise the role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on December 17. Liu shared in an interview that his portrayal will reflect growth and increased self-assurance, contrasting with Shang-Chi’s initial “fish out of water” status in his first MCU appearance.
I’m older, so getting to bring a little bit more of a quality of self-assurance is always great, especially because Shang was such a fish out of water,
Liu said during an interview with Comic Book.
There’s a little bit of a jump in time, so I think we’ll meet him at a place where he’s feeling a little more lived in with who he is and his responsibilities.
Currently, The Copenhagen Test streams on Peacock, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings remains available on Disney Plus. Fans awaiting more MCU developments should watch for this highly anticipated return, which may redefine Shang-Chi’s role in upcoming Marvel story arcs and possibly set the stage for a larger presence within the franchise.
Rewatching Simu Liu lately really highlights how Marvel fumbled Shang-Chi
byu/iF4RT3D inmarvelstudios
