Shang-Chi is joining the Thunderbolts team (but there is a catch)

As fans wait to learn more about Shang-Chi’s role in the MCU among the Avengers, it seems the hero is about to join another team: The Thunderbolts.

Among all the recent exhilarating Marvel Studios projects, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has claimed a spot high on fans’ favorites. Yet, the future of our new hero in the MCU remains tantalizingly uncertain.

While my birthday twin and all-around awesome human Simu Liu has hinted at a sequel originally slated after Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios themselves have yet to officially confirm these plans.

In a move that has sent a ripple of excitement through the fandom, Marvel Comics may have just inadvertently revealed the trajectory of Simu Liu’s role as Shang-Chi in the MCU’s Phase 5. Marvel Comics has introduced a new Thunderbolts comic in the lead-up to an impending MCU event film, with Shang-Chi listed among its roster.

Is Shang-Chi part of the Thunderbolts?

The new Thunderbolts comic series, penned by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, has unveiled an intriguing team lineup consisting of Yelena Belova (White Widow), Black Widow, Sharon Carter, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, and Shang-Chi. That’s right, Shang-Chi is joining the Thunderbolts.

The group will operate under the shared command of Bucky Barnes and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, as the team courageously targets “the people no one else is willing or able to take down,” including formidable adversaries like Red Skull, Kingpin, and Doctor Doom.

Marvel has a track record of synchronizing comic book series, events, or character developments with the unfolding MCU narrative. Notable instances include the alignment of the Guardians’ portrayal with James Gunn’s vision of the team and the introduction of a new Wasp, Nadia Pym, coinciding with Hope Van Dyne’s on-screen debut.

In this context, the question arises: does Shang-Chi’s involvement with the Thunderbolts in the comics hint at his potential inclusion in Phase 5’s Thunderbolts movie?

Could Shang-Chi appear in the Thunderbolts movie?

With Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi receiving an overwhelmingly positive reception and his prompt interaction with Wong, it’s surprising that there are no evident upcoming appearances for the character in the MCU.

However, the prospect of Shang-Chi’s inclusion in Thunderbolts raises eyebrows. Shang-Chi stands as a hero who, unlike the rest of the Thunderbolts, has a pristine record and isn’t associated with the fringes of the law. The character’s history does include a stint with MI-6, a clandestine organization, but that doesn’t seem to align naturally with his MCU portrayal.

Although the film’s current roster comprises Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, US Agent, and Ghost, there could be room for additional allies. However, let’s tread lightly as this exciting revelation emerges from the realm of comics, and the crossover into the cinematic universe remains unconfirmed. But we do hope it’ll be a thing.

So, where could Shang-Chi make his next appearance, aside from his speculated sequel? A plausible option is Captain America: Brave New World, where Sam Wilson could use some assistance combating Red Hulk or perhaps begins to build a new Avengers team.

While Brave New World is slated to hit the theaters on July 26, 2024, Thunderbolts is expected to wrap up Phase 5 on December 20, 2024, as long as there are no delays ahead.