After a year and a half without any new releases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made a major comeback in 2021. Thanks to the release of three new Disney Plus TV shows and the premiere ofBlack Widowthis month, Marvel Studios has been dominating pop culture once again, and they’re still far from finished.
Marvel’s next film in the pipeline isShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, due to release on September 3rd, 2021. Shang-Chi himself has never been the most well-known character, even among comic buffs, so it makes sense that the film hasn’t been the target of much fan speculation. However,with every new trailer releasedforShang-Chi, hype has been steadily starting to build, and it’s easy to see why.
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The MCU has been known to broaden the definition of what a superhero story can be by combining it with other genres.Guardians of the Galaxyis a space opera,Captain America: The Winter Soldieris a political thriller, andSpider-Man: Homecomingis an 80s-inspired high school comedy, but they’re all still superhero movies.Shang-Chiis following this tradition byexploring another genre: the martial arts film.
Of course, die-hard fans will be quick to point out that this isn’t the first time Marvel has tackled the martial arts genre in live-action — that would beIron Fist, the Netflix series first released in 2017. While it’s still hotly debated among fans whetherthe MCU’s various Netflix showsare still canon to the movies, they still have no shortage of supporters. At least, most of them do.
Iron Fistis one of the more controversial entries in the MCU, infamous for receiving unusually negative reception from fans and critics alike. Lovers of theIron Fistcomics who hoped for a faithful live-action adaptation were left disappointed — until now, that is.Shang-Chihas the unique opportunity to improve on the mistakes of the NetflixIron Fistshow, and live up tothe full potential of a martial arts storyin the Marvel Universe.
The flaws that earnedIron Fistits bad reputation are numerous, but one notable criticism is that its tone deviates drastically from the source material. In the comics, Iron Fist is known for his mystical powers and fantastical adventures, often delving into the more magic-based side of the Marvel Universe. TheIron Fistcomic is typically closer in tone toDoctor Strangeor evenDragon Ballthan it is toDaredevilorJessica Jones. However, despite possessing the same backstory as the comics, the NetflixIron Fistpresented a much more mundane story. Instead of mystical cities and other dimensions, Iron Fist does battle in apartment buildings and abandoned warehouses. His opponents aren’t fire-breathing dragons and immortal demi-gods, but generic henchmen and faceless ninjas.
Most of these issues are likely due tothe Netflix Marvel series having much smaller budgetsthan the ones possessed by the MCU films or even the new Disney Plus shows. As such, the crew ofIron Fistsimply lacked the resources to bring the fantastical battles of the comics to life. But as a result, the show failed to capture the over-the-top style that made its source material so beloved by fans. By contrast, the trailers forShang-Chiclearly demonstrate that the film will have a major emphasis on stylish, colorful visuals anddynamic, spectacular action set pieces.It’s also clear that the film won’t be shying away from supernatural elements one bit, but instead be leaning heavily into them. By taking the opposite approach as the NetflixIron Fistin regards to tone and style, theShang-Chifilm looks to be much closer to theIron Fistcomics.
Another major problem with the NetflixIron Fistseries was its villains. A great superhero story needs a great supervillain, and the antagonists ofIron Fistproved painfully lacking. Whilethe other Netflix Marvel shows received acclaimfor their main antagonists — Kingpin inDaredevil, Kilgrave inJessica Jones, and Cottonmouth inLuke Cage—Iron Fistlacked a charismatic central enemy to serve as the titular hero’s nemesis. The antagonists of the series typically fall into one of two main factions. One faction is the Hand, the painfully generic group of evil ninjas first introduced in Season 2 ofDaredevil, who are no more compelling inIron Fistthan they were in that series. The other faction is Rand Enterprises, a completely mundane company with no secret supervillains lurking behind the scenes. Neither group serves as a particularly engaging big bad for a superhero series.
By contrast,Shang-Chihas a well-defined villain from the get-go — one who will be a sure draw for longtime MCU fans, no less. The main antagonist ofShang-Chiis the title character’s father,better known as the Mandarin.Anyone who’s seenIron Man 3will likely recognize the title of the Mandarin as the name used by that film’s supposed antagonist, played by Ben Kingsley.
The Mandarin has been Iron Man’s archenemy in the comics for decades, and the news that a big-name actor like Kingsley would be bringing him to life on the big screen got Iron Man fans hyped to see an epic clash of nemeses. However, the events of the actual film incited controversy when it was revealed that Kingsley’s character was actually an actor named Trevor, used as a decoy by the movie’s real villain — Aldrich Killian, played by Guy Pearce.
A 2014 short film,All Hail the King, packaged with the home release ofThor: The Dark World, continued Trevor’s story and teased at the existence of a real Mandarin, though this plot thread was thought forgotten by fans for years. But now, against all odds, the true Mandarin will be making his MCU debut. And though he may not befacing off with Iron Man,his battle with Shang-Chi has the potential to be just as thrilling.
Finally, one thing that setsShang-Chiapart fromIron Fistis the casting of an Asian actor in the lead role. Though Danny Rand, Iron Fist’s most famous alter ego, has always been white in the comics, the Netflix show drew controversy for the use of a white lead in a series rooted in Asian martial arts and iconography. Meanwhile, inShang-Chi, both the title character andthe actor playing him, Simu Liu,are of Chinese descent.
Though some fans might claim that the protagonist’s race doesn’t affect the quality of a story, the runaway success ofBlack Pantherproves that embracing diversity in superhero movies can make a massive cultural impact. And in a year where racism andhate crimes against Asian-Americanshave been making headlines, there’s no better time for an Asian superhero to star in a major motion picture.
WhileIron Fistmay have been a disappointing first foray into the martial arts genre from Marvel,Shang-Chihas the potential to correct its errors.The films of the MCU have always found success experimenting with new genres, so let’s hopeShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis no exception.
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