It’s been over five years since Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings, and fans are clamoring for an update on the sequel. However, the Shang-Chi 2 delay will benefit the MCU movie in the long run.
While speaking with Deadline to promote Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton spoke about the long-awaited Shang-Chi 2. The good news is that a sequel remains on the table. “We are developing a second one,” Cretton said regarding Shang-Chi 2.
The sequel was first announced in December 2021. Cretton cites the pandemic as one of the reasons why it’s taking so long for Shang-Chi 2. “It was successful, but it actually came out weirdly,” Cretton explained. “It was successful at a time when a new wave of COVID was hitting, so it was successful, but also, many countries were completely shut down to theaters at the time. After that, there were just crazy changes all over the place. It’s just a result of the industry [recalibrating].”
Why Marvel may be bringing Shang-Chi back at the right time
Hollywood is obsessed with creating franchises and greenlighting sequels. If a studio can capitalize on a movie’s success with a follow-up, they’ll tend to rush to get it into production so it comes out within a year or two.
With Shang-Chi 2, the delay might be the best thing for it. It’s been five years since Simu Liu appeared as Shang-Chi. That’s a long time for a Marvel hero to be off-screen. Audiences need to be reintroduced to Shang-Chi, and they will get that opportunity in December when Liu stars in Avengers: Doomsday. A positive showcase for Shang-Chi can help build momentum for the character’s MCU future and hopefully grow interest in Shang-Chi 2.
The Shang-Chi 2 delay has also helped build Cretton’s credibility in the Marvel universe. Earlier this year, Cretton co-created Wonder Man, a surprise MCU hit for Disney+. The positive reaction to Wonder Man led to the greenlighting of Season 2.
This summer, Cretton is the director of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Besides the Avengers, Spider-Man is probably Marvel’s most important property right now. If Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a critical and financial hit, it will only raise Cretton’s profile as an action director. His name can now be a draw to fans looking for more of his MCU projects, like Shang-Chi 2.
Originally reported by Dan Girolamo for SuperHeroHype.
