Less than three years after its release in theaters, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is broadcast on TF1 this Sunday, February 18. The opportunity to wonder where the sequel is.
This was one of the objectives of Phase IV of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: to make a transition between the first generation of Avengers, led by Iron Man and Captain America, and the next. By introducing us to new characters, less known to the general public.
A hero born in 1973
Including Shang-Chi. Born in December 1973, in number 15 of “Special Marvel Edition”, the character allows the Maison des Idées to ride the wave of martial arts films and the success of the Kung Fu series. In the absence of superpowers, he has mastery of different forms of combat and chi (or vital energy), which make him formidable.
And we will have to wait a little less than fifty years before seeing it land on the small or big screen. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (States of Grace) and carried by Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on September 1, 2021.
Influenced by a whole section of Asian action cinema, Tiger and Dragon in the lead, it presents itself as a good surprise which allows the MCU to take a welcome little step aside. Which does not necessarily translate to the box office, Marvel’s strike force having already lost its power, in a world where theaters are still suffering the consequences of Covid.
432.2 million dollars in worldwide revenue and a little less than three years later, the feature film is broadcast on TF1 while its sequel, announced at the end of 2021 at the same time as a derivative series, is in great limbo. Like the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Shang-Chi on the corner?
Since the release of Shang-Chi, Phase IV ended earlier than expected (after Black Panther 2), two new Avengers films were announced (The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars), success was not always at the box office, and the studio lost the interpreter of its big bad, Jonathan Majors, fired after being found guilty of assault and harassment towards his former girlfriend.
And a rumor has it that Kevin Feige is taking advantage of Secret Wars and its multiverse stories to reduce the size and number of characters in the MCU, a reduction for which Shang-Chi could pay the price. According to the latest news given by Simu Liu, in July 2021, the sequel was not expected to be released before the next Avengers. So not before 2027?
In line with the post-credits scene?
Destin Daniel Cretton has since abandoned the direction of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, whose script had to be reworked. But he remained, we were told, attached to the production of Shang-Chi 2, which he should take care of after the Wonder Man series, currently in filming.
Things still have time to change a good dozen times, and we will have to wait before having real information. And find out if the sequel will follow in the footsteps of the post-credits scene of the first episode, which showed the character of Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), sister of the hero, at the head of the Ten Rings organization.