SHANG-CHI Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Deadline is reporting that Marvel Studios has tapped Destin Daniel Cretton to direct the upcoming Shang-Chi, the first superhero movie with an Asian protagonist.
According to the article, the goal is to set up a project very similar to Black Panther, in that the cast will be predominantly Asian-American. David Callaham is in place to write the screenplay, which will reportedly update the hero’s origin story to avoid stereotypes.
Shang-Chi first appeared in Marvel Comics in December 1973 with Special Marvel Edition #15. The character is a master of wushu martial arts, and was created by Steve Englehart (who’s responsible for bringing Patsy Walker in the Marvel Universe) and Jim Starlin (who also co-created current MCU villain Thanos as well as Drax the Destroyer and Gamora).
How much of the original backstory will remain is yet to be determined, but Shang-Chi is the son of a wealthy humanitarian who raises his son in isolation in China. Shang grows up learning and mastering multiple forms of martial arts before going out into the world on orders from his father. But Shang soon learns that his father is not who he appears to be, and the globalist’s reputation as “The Devil’s Doctor” soon puts them at odds.
Shang made several crossover appearances in Marvel Comics as well, teaming up with Iron Fist and the Daughters of the Dragon, who have all appeared in the Netflix series (and may yet again show up on Disney+). So, might there be a possibility — however remote — that we could see some established characters show up in Shang-Chi?
