Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings has been a major hit with its cinematic release earlier this year. It surpassed Black Widow in the box offices and introduced some fabulous new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and brought back some well-known MCU characters (Wong, Trevor Slattery, the Hulk and Captain Marvel). Now, we’ve got the wonderful news that a sequel is on the way!
Considering Eternals has gotten very unfavorable reviews, to the point of being the lowest rating MCU movie to date, with 59% positive reviews, several points lower than the previously lowest-rated Marvel film 2013’s Thor: Dark World, which sits at a 66% rating. As a movie that marks so many important milestones for Marvel – an LGBTQ+ superhero, a very diverse ensemble cast, and a female Chinese director – it is disappointing that it has not been better received.
With this in mind, it is definitely a positive note that Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings is getting a sequel. The vast majority of the cast is of Asian heritage and newly debuting to the MCU in said film. This goes to show that venturing outside people’s preconceived ideas that primarily White people can act; people of color are also talented in acting.
Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings and Eternals aside, another show that promises to bring diversity to the MCU is the debut of comic book character Ms Marvel. Portrayed by Canadian Iman Vellani, of Pakistan descent, Vellani will portray Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel in the upcoming mini series as the titular character, and will reprise said role in The Marvels, an upcoming MCU film featuring Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame) and Monica Rambeau (WandaVision).
As an Asian and one who is a big Marvel fan, it’s very exciting that Shang-Chi is getting a sequel that will hopefully be released as soon as 2024, with production starting in 2023. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of those franchises that plans for the long-term; it is definitely exciting to see where they take the comic book world next! Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye are both coming out before the end of this calendar year, so buy those movie tickets and crack open Disney Plus!