You might’ve heard about a little Marvel movie coming out this weekend by the name of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It’s the first Marvel Studios movie featuring an Asian American director and a predominantly Asian and Asian American cast. So we are hyped, to say the least. But if you need any more reasons to watch Shang-Chi, just check out the cast of both legendary and rising stars.
Details about a private screening giveaway at the end!
Simu Liu
Before he was announced as the MCU’s first Asian American superhero at Comic-Con (introducing himself first in Mandarin, no less!), he was showing off his abs in the hit show, Kim’s Convenience. Ever since, he’s been getting more and more love leading up to the release of Shang-Chi. Of course he is, the guy is charismatic, well-spoken, and in great shape. Simu is basically a superhero already - no wonder he was cast.
Check out Liu in: Kim’s Convenience, Blood and Water
If you need further proof of his martial arts prowess, check out this fun short he tweeted.
And if you’re wondering if he’s funny, Simu collaborates often with Wong Fu Productions, including this classic.
Or listen to the They Call Us Bruce podcast when he visited Austin for SXSW.
Awkwafina/Nora Lum
Every Marvel movie needs a character to bring in the laughs and there’s no one better than Awkwafina. She did it in Crazy Rich Asians and she does it in her current Comedy Central show, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. But don’t get it twisted - she’s got range, too. She can play Danny Devito in Jumanji: The Next Level, but also be gut-wrenching in the Lulu Wang indie drama The Farewell.
Check out Awkwafina in: The Farewell, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Crazy Rich Asians, Her hosting SNL
Awkwafina has plenty of hilarious things on YouTube, but even this simple promo video of her carting around the Shang-Chi cast is fun.
Tony Leung
He’s only one of the greatest living actors. So he really needs no introduction, and if you’ve seen a Wong Kar-wai film, it’s likely you’ve witnessed him share his craft in classics like Chungking Express or In the Mood for Love. Perhaps it was John Woo’s action-packed Hard Boiled that introduced you to Leung; or the spicy love scenes in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution; or his kung-fu prowess in The Grandmaster. Either way, Leung has had a long and illustrious career and we’re extremely excited that he has brought his talent to the states with this highly anticipated Marvel role.
Check out Leung in: In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affairs, Red Cliff, Hero, and Flowers of Shanghai
Deleted footage of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung adorably dancing, just because we want to.
Tony discussing his characters with GQ (class photos/article by them, too)
Michelle Yeoh
Before she was a badass, intimidating mom in Crazy Rich Asians, Yeoh was noticed in beauty pageants and then became a badass in martial arts movies, even doing her own stunt work. So while she clearly can bring the glamour, she backs it up with serious fighting skills, too. Yeoh nailed one of her earliest starring roles in Yes, Madam and went on to work with the likes of Jackie Chan and notable choreographer Yuen Woo-ping. Her execution of Yeun’s fight choreography in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was especially praised globally. She’s already an icon, so adding her to the MCU only makes sense.
Check out Yeoh in: Yes Madam, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crazy Rich Asians
An amazing fight scene from Yeoh’s early work in Yes, Madam.
In her first on-screen performance, she teamed up with Jackie Chan for this cute watch commercial.
Ronny Chieng
Some of the funniest, most important Daily Show pieces star Chieng. His hilarious take on society and current events help audiences process, laugh, and feel angry about the state of things. His most known segment for the show came when he tackled a racist depiction of people in Chinatown that was aired on The O’Reilly Factor. It’s not always easy to navigate and discuss upsetting things like that, but Chieng does it with fire and wit. His appearance in Crazy Rich Asian and his Netflix comedy special Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America are indications that he’s only just starting.
Check out Chieng in: The Daily Show, Crazy Rich Asians, Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America
Andy Le
Le may not be as well known as his colleagues, but he’s quickly making his mark in action-packed projects, like Quoc Bao Tran’s indie hit The Paper Tigers. In Shang-Chi, Le plays Death Dealer, a masked henchman of Leung’s and the trainer for young Shang-Chi. A stuntman and trainer in addition to his acting prowess, the Vietnamese American actor has the chops to take Hollywood blockbusters by storm, and like his co-star Liu, he too loves to wow everyone with impressive backflips!
Check out Le in: The Paper Tigers, Wu-Tang: An American Saga
Check him out on his YouTube channel Martial Club, where he and his brothers Brian and Daniel Mah show off their cunning moves.
Destin Daniel Cretton
The first Asian American director of a Marvel movie. That’s quite an achievement, but not a surprise. Cretton is already a seasoned filmmaker who worked with high profile actors like Brie Larson and Michael B. Jordan. So when it comes to helping such a huge project with a talented cast, he’s up to the challenge. His breakthrough movie came in the form of the 2013 indie darling, Short Term 12, which he adapted from his own short. We highly recommend you check that out if you’re ready to cry and feel all the things.
Check out these movies directed by Cretton: I Am Not a Hipster, Short Term 12, Just Mercy
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters now! You likely already have tickets, but if you don’t, find where it’s playing near you here. Let’s make it one of the biggest Marvel movies ever.
We’re also giving away a private screening to one lucky winner and their friends/family to watch SHANG-CHI in their own theater room (Austin only). Stay tuned to our Instagram to enter!