“Things are changing”: After Jonathan Majors Controversy, Simu Liu Unsure if Shang-Chi Appears in ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’
Simu Liu earned his leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, playing the role of Xu Shang-Chi, who is the son of Ying Li and Wenwu, the first leader and wielder of the Ten Rings.
Shang-Chi, in order to start a new life and escape from his father’s exploits, lives in San Francisco under a different identity. But the Master of Martial Arts is eventually forced to reunite with his shadowy past when the terrorist organization finds him.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings earned plenty of accolades following its release in 2021, and the Canadian actor was also lauded for his performance. This also paved the way for the Master of Martial Arts’ potential appearance in the fifth installment of The Avengers.
However, Marvel Studios are currently in a tricky spot due to accusations of domestic violence against Jonathan Majors – who’s to lead the studio’s 5th Avengers project – Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Simu Liu Not Sure if He’ll Make an Appearance in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Jonathan Majors plays the character of Kang the Conqueror in the franchise, feared for his knowledge of the multiverse. But in real life, there are fears over the American actor’s future commitments. In March of this year, the Creed 3 star was arrested for an alleged domestic dispute.
The aftermath of this has seen Majors being dropped from multiple projects. Accordingly, there are now doubts over his situation in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, consequently also creating uncertainty for its other names, including Simu Liu.
When asked to shed some light on the Avengers’ situation and his role in the anticipated movie, Liu said: “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be in it too. Beyond that, I really don’t know, and I don’t want to know before it’s absolutely ready. If there’s anything I’ve learned in this industry, especially with Marvel, it’s that things are changing, always in flux, and you really can’t be sure that something is going to happen until you’re on set and you’re about to do the scene.”
The sequel of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was scheduled to follow the Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, as such, there are now doubts over its release date as well.
Simu Liu Focused on Barbie
The 34-year-old is currently busy promoting his next big role: another Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Going from an intense-action-focused role of Martial Arts genius to chasing Barbie (Margot Robbie) in Barbie Land is certainly going to be a big shift for him as well as his fans.
The difference between playing a Marvel hero and Barbie’s boy toy is pretty similar to the gulf between the theme of Barbie and Oppenheimer (both movies will release on the same day, 21st July).
But Liu gave an interesting take on the matter, stating: “Whether you’re fighting people on a bus or doing a multi-person dance sequence in a cul-de-sac in Barbie Dream World. It’s cool to trade the gloves and the pads for a dance studio with a ballet bar.”
However, Liu isn’t forgetting his martial arts skill anytime soon and insisted “when that call comes” he’ll happily show up for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Bar any future delays and hurdles, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is scheduled to release on May 1, 2026.
Read more: Clash with Cillian Murphy’s ‘Oppenheimer’ Does Not Even Bother ‘Barbie’ Director Greta Gerwig
Source: Men’s Health
