With Disney refocusing its MCU release strategy, Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu breaks the silence on concerns that Shang-Chi 2 will not happen.

Shang-Chi 2 actor Simu Liu clears up the concern about his sequel not happening following semi-recent behind-the-scene changes with Disney’s release strategy for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. By this August, it will have been exactly three years since the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ending, bringing the titular hero into the MCU. However, despite Shang-Chi 2 being confirmed to happen, the sequel is still nowhere to be seen on the MCU release schedule.

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the MCU star was asked about new Shang-Chi 2 updates, as there has been little progression on the sequel. While he didn’t have any specific updates about when filming may start, Liu gave a detailed response about Shang-Chi 2 still happening:

You want me to lose my job, is that it? This is where I use all the mental gymnastics that I possibly can to answer this question, I will say this. It’s definitely happening, I should probably lead with that. People, whether it’s online or in person, ask me every single day and tell me every single day how much they enjoyed the first movie and how much of a moment it was. And I think there’s just so much goodwill, and I’m so deeply appreciative of that.

So please know that if you’ve ever sent me a message, if you’ve ever asked about a sequel or just approached or any which way, I really take it to heart, and I really, really appreciate it. I think I speak for myself and Destin [Daniel Cretton], our returning director, when I say that we’re so beyond excited to jump back in.

Why Is Shang-Chi 2 Taking So Long To Happen?

Despite Liu’s positive statement, it still begs the question of why it is taking an extended amount of time for Shang-Chi 2 to happen. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of the more successful films in Phase 4, introducing a brand new hero to the MCU with the potential to pop up in other Marvel projects. However, he simply hasn’t. Given widespread complaints over issues with VFX and writing in the post-Endgame MCU, ignoring arguably the best new character to come from the era seems odd.

It’s also worth taking into account that Marvel Studios is also having to figure out where to go after the firing of Jonathan Majors, which may be slowing other projects down behind the scenes. Shang-Chi 2 is something that Marvel Studios may be taking more time with in order to build on the goodwill earned by the hero’s first movie outing. It wouldn’t be shocking if Shang-Chi 2 is either one of the many mysterious Phase 6 projects or something that gets saved until Phase 7 after The Multiverse Saga’s conclusion.

Something that would be beneficial to the MCU is having Liu’s Shang-Chi show up in other Marvel Studios movies and TV shows to start laying more of a foundation with other characters in the franchise. Outside of Wong, Captain Marvel, and Bruce Banner, Shang-Chi has yet to build some proper dynamics with the larger MCU, which could be useful ahead of his sequel. Hopefully, there will be more Shang-Chi 2 news sooner rather than later.