Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was an underrated Marvel project that took a rather obscure superhero and brought him onto the main stage of the MCU. The film was reasonably successful and contained a few cameos from other Marvel films. Additionally, Destin Daniel Cretton became the first Asian-American to direct an MCU film and the first Asian-American to direct any Marvel film since Ang Lee worked on Hulk in 2003. Cretton has since begun working closely with Marvel Studios, having been slated to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and write the upcoming Wonder Man series.

Along with these projects, Cretton is continually asked if he will be making an untitled sequel to Shang-Chi. This will put his flagship character back into the Marvel universe and make him an integral part of the MCU narrative. Cretton has also recently made a first-look deal with Marvel, so he will likely start showing up all over the place. With this level of integration and popularity inside the MCU, viewers might start seeing more of Shang-Chi outside his own franchise.

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Destin Daniel Cretton’s Sequel

     Marvel Studios

Though many people knew for a long time that Cretton would be working more closely with the MCU, few understood exactly how far his reach would become. Over the past year, Cretton has been gifted with three more Marvel projects, making him one of the most integral directors for the franchise.

Recently, he broke his silence over the status of a Shang-Chi sequel. For a while, fans of the movie had been wondering if there would be a sequel in the mix or if we will have to wait until Secret Wars to see Shang-Chi again. Though fans would be excited about a sequel, it looks like Cretton would be rather busy trying to make one. Still, those involved with the film, including Shang-Chi himself, Simu Liu, are excited to get the ball rolling.

When asked what might happen to his legendary character, Simu Liu told Complex in an exclusive interview:

So, at the very least, the star of Shang-Chi is willing to return as its title character. And the way Marvel works, viewers see cameos of their favorite characters almost everywhere. But we haven’t seen Shang-Chi show up anywhere in the MCU since his big debut, despite the great number of tie-ins the movie set the character up for.

“I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings. 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.”

How Does Shang-Chi Connect With the MCU?

One of the most important parts of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings might have been the post-credits scene. Here Marvel raised the question: just what are the Ten Rings? These magical, possibly alien artifacts imbue their wearer with superhuman strength, speed, and some degree of magic.

When Wong looked at them, he was dumbfounded by what they might be, noting that they didn’t appear in any ancient codex he had at Kamar-Taj Both Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner observed them as well but agreed that they weren’t alien or made of any metal found on Earth. But one thing was certain; they were sending some type of message. The Ten Rings were emitting some sort of beacon from inside their structure, but no one seemed to know what it was or where it was going.

Since then, we haven’t heard anything about Shang-Chi and his Ten Rings, but the movie hinted that they would be important. If Cretton isn’t making a Shang-Chi sequel, then at some point, he may have to explain just what the Rings were doing. Or if they sent a beacon somewhere, someone will have to answer in the future. Although the comic book character is usually engrossed in his own dealings, he was an Avenger, and now, in the MCU, he has contact with Wong, who appears all over the place.

That signal might relate to Kang, or perhaps Wong will call upon Shang-Chi to aid him in the future. Cretton may find a way to work Shang-Chi into a conflict with Wonder Man or Kang as a set-up for Kang Dynasty. Though he didn’t significantly impact the MCU, you shouldn’t count out Shang-Chi yet.