There have been a million thinkpieces about the current state of Marvel Studios. Is Kevin Feige’s record-breaking studio in trouble? Will Bob Iger force the studio to cut down on the number of projects? Do audiences even care anymore? Well, we don’t have real answers about any of that, other than to say things are definitely not as rosy as they were when “Avengers: Endgame” was destroying the box office in 2019. Since then, the ups and downs of Marvel Studios have been obvious. One of the wins in a post-‘Endgame’ world seems to have been “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” released in 2021. That film earned a solid box office, despite its pandemic release, and was seemingly beloved by critics and fans alike. And according to the film’s star, even with all the unknowns surrounding Marvel Studios, a ‘Shang-Chi’ sequel is still very much in the works.
READ MORE: Simu Liu Confirms Destin Daniel Cretton Will Return To Direct’ Shang-Chi 2’
Speaking on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Simu Liu was asked about the current status of a ‘Shang-Chi’ sequel. While he didn’t give away anything about the plot or release window, Liu went as far as to confirm, once again, that a true sequel is still in the works, despite a lack of release date.
“This is where I use all the mental gymnastics that I possibly can to answer this question,” teased Liu. “I will say this–It’s definitely happening, I should probably lead with that. People, whether it’s online or in person, ask me every single day and tell me every single day how much they enjoyed the first movie and how much of a moment it was. And I think there’s just so much goodwill, and I’m so deeply appreciative of that.”
He continued, “So please know that if you’ve ever sent me a message, if you’ve ever asked about a sequel or just approached or any which way, I really take it to heart, and I really, really appreciate it, I do. I think I speak for myself and Destin [Daniel Cretton], our returning director, when I say that we’re so beyond excited to jump back in. We really are.”
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” introduced the world to the title character, a Marvel superhero who is amazing at kung fu, while also in possession of ten rings that grant him additional super powers. The film was released in September 2021 and earned well over $400 million worldwide, which is nothing to sneeze at in today’s day and age, where “The Marvels” earned a measly $206 million.
This news is also heartening to fans in light of the reports that Disney CEO Bob Iger is quietly cancelling previously promised films at Marvel Studios in light of lower box office of recent films. No one knows exactly what he’s been axing behind the scenes, but fans have been throwing around various projects, including ‘Shang-Chi 2’ as obvious victims of the cuts.
As mentioned above, there’s no release date announced for a ‘Shang-Chi’ sequel. And since Marvel Studios has announced a variety of things dated all the way into 2026 and beyond, it’s unlikely ‘Shang-Chi 2’ is happening anytime soon. That said, if you were hoping to see another entry in the fledgeling franchise, you’re in luck. Simu Liu wouldn’t lie about that, right?