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'Shang-Chi 2': Everything We Know So Far

Marvel Studios confirmed that Destin Daniel Cretton will be coming back to direct the sequel and will also contribute to the writing process.

Shang Chi 2

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of the first films that came out after the COVID-19 pandemic and while it didn’t make record-breaking money, it set the tone for what the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could bring. 

The story follows a valet named Shaun who has to reconcile with the past as Shang-Chi, accompanied by his best friend Katy and his sister Xialing who runs a fighting ring building in Macau. They all get together to stop the leader of the Ten Rings (and his father), Wenwu, from infiltrating Ta Lo and breaking the barrier that was protecting people from soul-suckers. Wenwu hallucinated that his dead wife Ying was actually alive and behind the barrier. When he successfully breaks the barrier and lets the soul-suckers loose, Shang-Chi, Xialing, Katy, and the dragon he summoned work tirelessly to defeat them. 

For the sequel, Marvel Studios confirmed that Destin Daniel Cretton will be coming back to direct and will also contribute to the writing process. Cretton will also be coming back to direct Avengers: Kang Dynasty. Additionally, Cretton will be directing an untitled series for Disney+ which most fans speculate is a Shang-Chi spin-off.

What Is The Plot Of Shang-Chi 2?

Considering we saw Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) show up in the post-credit scene, discussing the origin of the Ten Rings, the sequel could possibly explore that connection and why the rings have been pulsating as a beacon. 

Furthermore, we also see Xialing reconvene the Ten Rings in a way her father would have never imagined. We could also see the two siblings butt heads in the way they have been running things around. 

In Ms. Marvel Episode 3, we see the symbol of the Ten Rings in a temple, leading to another possible connection between the rings themselves and Kamala’s bangle that could be explored. 



 

Who Is Cast In Shang-Chi 2?

Of course, Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Awkwafina (Katy), and Meng’er Zhang (Xialing) will be making their appearances again. Ronny Chieng, Michelle Yeoh (Ying Nan), Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery), and Florian Munteanu (Razorfist) will also be reprising their roles in the sequel.

While it is still unsure whether the latter group will have prominent roles in the sequel, it is fairly certain that the former group will carry the narrative of the Ten Rings forward. Liu commented on the project, saying, “Just this idea of all of a sudden being gifted something that's so powerful but also so dangerous. And then the other big question I have is, you know, in what way does Shaun fit in with the rest of the MCU? Who are you going to see? What kind of crazy team-ups? What kinda tie-ins, Easter eggs? I'm just as much in the dark and everyone else, so I don't know anything, but I'm excited to dive into that process.”



 

When Will Shang-Chi 2 Release?

Following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, the path was cleared for the MCU to take a more unconventional direction and introduce new, youthful characters. While this shift has been partially realized with pleasant surprises like Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight, Phase Four onwards has witnessed some instability within the franchise, and it appears this trend will persist.

Recently, Simu Liu, the lead actor of Shang-Chi & the Ten Rings, engaged in an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Threads, Meta's innovative new platform. Predictably, Liu was questioned about the progress of his upcoming second solo film (currently referred to as Shang-Chi 2). He candidly revealed that the film's release status is currently uncertain. Initially, it was intended to follow an Avengers movie; however, due to circumstances beyond his control causing repeated delays to the Avengers project, the release plans for his own movie have been thrown into uncertainty. With both Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars having their release dates pushed to May 2026 and May 2027 respectively, this implies that there will be a considerable five to six-year gap between Shang's titular films.