'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton will direct a sequel to the Marvel blockbuster starring Simu Liu.
Crucially, the film could only be seen in theaters. That has put another ‘arrow in the quiver’ for theater owners contending with an uncertain release schedule.“Destin is an amazing collaborator who brought a unique perspective and skill to ‘Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings,’” Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said in a statement to Deadline.
“We had a fantastic time working together on the film and he has so many intriguing ideas for stories to bring to life on Disney+, so we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with him and can’t wait to get started.” Earlier this year, “Shang-Chi” was the first Disney film during the COVID-19 pandemic to be released only in theaters, launching at $90 million across North American cinemas alone. The MCU epic, also featuring Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang and Michelle Yeoh, became available to stream on Disney+ last month.How do you turn a cliché-ridden comic book character into a distinctly Asian American superhero? Tackle the tropes one by one.
Through his new partnership with Onyx, which spotlights entertainment created by artists from marginalized communities, Cretton’s production company Family Owned will pursue projects centering on identities historically underrepresented in film and TV, according to Deadline. “Working on Shang-Chi with Kevin and the Marvel Studios team was one of the highlights of my life, and I couldn’t be more excited about Tara’s vision for Onyx Collective,” Cretton said in a statement to the trade outlet. “I can’t wait to explore new stories and build new worlds with this community.”