Marvel's Shang-Chi Movie Synopsis Reveals New Plot Details
New plot details are revealed for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Directed by Destin Cretton and starring Simu Liu, the movie will debut the real Mandarin played by legendary Asian actor Tony Leung following the villain's fake reveal in Iron Man 3.
Officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings began production earlier this year. But not long after it kicked-off filming in Australia, production had to be halted due to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. It eventually restarted filming and quietly finished back in October with impressively no single positive case of the virus. At this point, only Liu, Leung, and Akwafina were confirmed to star in the movie, but on the heels of Marvel Studios' presentation at the recently-held Disney Investor Day, additional cast members have also been announced including Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan.
Aside from the core characters, Marvel Studios also released the first official synopsis for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. As posted on Marvel.com, the film will see Shang-Chi confront his past following an encounter with the Ten Rings — the same terror group who's behind Tony Stark's kidnapping in Iron Man.
Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
It's an interesting point to start Shang-Chi's arc in the MCU, but it tracks with his story in print. Starring in the '70s Marvel comics titled Master of Kung Fu, the hero is an incredible martial artist who fights his evil father Fu Manchu. Shang-Chi's fighting abilities were honed by his father's insistence, as part of grooming him to be one of his top assassins, not foreseeing that he will rebel against his wishes. Due to character rights complexity, Marvel is unable to use Fu Manchu even in the comics, but being an integral part of Shang-Chi's arc, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would have to find a way to tackle their dynamic without using the character. Prominent theories claim that Marvel Studios will retcon the Mandarin aka Wenwu to play the role of Fu Manchu which checks out with his new plot synopsis. Perhaps after Shang-Chi refused to follow his father's orders so he decided to leave and lead his own life only to be roped back in after an encounter with the Ten Rings.
This also effectively links the Ten Rings to the story. The villainous group has been in the MCU since its inception, but after its failed kidnapping of Tony Stark, it has mainly operated in the shadows. The confirmation in the Marvel one-shot "All Hail the King" confirmed that the real Mandarin does exist, effectively making his Ten Rings a threat that's only waiting for the perfect time to strike. With the release date for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings inches near, it's safe to expect more details about the movie coming out. The official marketing campaign should also start soon which would give a better sense of what to expect from the blockbuster.
Source: Marvel.com