Marvel Studios recently released their official “teaser” on their upcoming film, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” – in theaters September 3, 2021. For the Asian American community, I have to imagine this is our ‘Black Panther’ moment (a great film in my opinion and a gigantic blockbuster).
Although I was a big Marvel comic book fan and collector as a kid, I don’t think I had ever heard of Shang-Chi. Obviously, this is a big deal for actor Simu Liu, who will be starring in Marvel’s first super hero film starring an Asian American super hero.
From the trailer, there will be a lot of martial arts action, and that’s not a surprise given the background of Shang-Chi (from Wikipedia):
“Shang-Chi, also known as the Master of Kung Fu and Brother Hand, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, first appearing in Special Marvel Edition #15 (cover-dated December 1973) in the Bronze Age of Comic Books, starring in his own solo title until 1983. Shang-Chi is proficient in numerous unarmed and weaponry-based wushu styles, including the use of the gùn, nunchaku, and jian.”
Part of the film were shot in San Francisco as the film takes place there, and I remember some of my friends trying to catch glimpses of the filming when Marvel was on location.
I’m really hoping “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is a big hit and look forward to seeing it theaters this September!
