When is Shang-Chi 2 coming out? It's the question that fans of the first film have been asking for a long time now, with more and more frustration each time. The original film, 2021's Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. received critical acclaim and has stood the rest of time as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's biggest success stories of its rather-divisive Multiverse Saga. So, why hasn't there been any significant development on the sequel?
Star Simu Liu has stayed within the Marvel bubble, voicing the character in episodes of What If...? and Marvel Zombies. He now officially returns in the long-awaited crossover film Avengers: Doomsday this December when Earth's Mightiest Heroes go up against Doctor Doom. And now, Liu has confirmed that it won't be too much longer until we see him again... even if that means his long-awaited sequel still isn't on the cards just yet.
Simu Liu confirms he will return as Shang-Chi in Avengers: Secret Wars
It sounds like we'll be seeing even more of Shang-Chi next year. Simu Liu recently appeared at a signing and was directly about Shang-Chi 2, with the actor seemingly offering up confirmation that he will appear in 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. In a recently-deleted video from Itzyreviews (that was posted on Reddit), Liu once again acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his long-awaited sequel before diving into the list of MCU movies he will be appearing in first.
"I know. I have the same questions. I think soon. I think soon. First Doomsday, then Secret Wars then uh… we’ll do Shang Chi"
This confirms two major things: First of all, Shang-Chi will survive the events of Avengers: Doomsday. Don't get us wrong, there is a real chance that he and the rest of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four could be wiped out by a multiversal incursion (or have their fates changed altogether) but they will return in Avengers: Secret Wars in some capacity - just as the heroes who fell to Thanos' snap in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War returned in 2019's Avengers: Endgame.
It's not incredibly surprising considering that Avengers: Doomsday was always set to be a Part 1 when it comes to the Multiverse Saga's conclusion. As big as it gets, Avengers: Secret Wars is always going to be bigger - and that means that a bigger team of heroes will be needed. It makes sense that Shang-Chi - one of the most successful heroes of that saga and perhaps the best fighter that they have - is a part of that line-up.
Shang-Chi 2 still seemingly on the radar despite delays
The other element of Liu's comments that, of course, caught fans' attention is how he addressed the Shang-Chi 2 rumors. The use of "soon" and the "and then we'll do Shang-Chi" do once again seem to confirm that the movie is still on the Marvel Studios calendar despite all of the changes that the MCU has experienced in recent years - which has seen a number of planned projects scrapped or cancelled.
Through it all, Liu has remained optimistic that the sequel will still happen. Despite the Multiverse Saga's shortcomings when launching new MCU heroes, Shang-Chi remains one of its biggest success stories, so there was always hope that he'd be back for a sequel. But given that those shortcomings have resulted in lacklustre box office returns for actually critically-acclaimed movies like Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it's understandable that Marvel Studios has waited for the turning point before risking an underperformance for Shang-Chi as well.
Liu's return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars is actually a wise strategy here because both films are expected to be massive box office wins, therefore exposing the Shang-Chi character to an even wider audience than ever before. And if both of those films manage to restore faith in the MCU franchise ahead of its next saga, then Shang-Chi 2 will be inevitable.
Speaking of its next saga, there is one other element that has complicated the plans around the sequel - and that is Destin Daniel Cretton's other Marvel project. The Shang-Chi director recently helmed Spider-Man: Brand New Day, earning acclaim for the way in which he brought the film's story to life in such a visual and vivid way. He's now expected to return for Spider-Man 5, which obviously raises more questions about when Shang-Chi 2 might happen. Despite that, it still seems that it will. And, at this point, that's all that really matters.
So, again, the mystery surrounding the sequel once again can be answered with a: Soon, but not yet. In the meantime, however, we'll get plenty of Shang-Chi action in the upcoming Avengers movies.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars then arrives on December 17, 2027.
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