Marvel Studios Is Fast-Tracking Shang-Chi to Be Its First Superhero Movie Tentpole Franchise with an Asian Protagonist

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EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Studios is fast-tracking Shang-Chi to be its first superhero movie tentpole franchise with an Asian protagonist. The studio has set Chinese- American scribe Dave Callaham to write the screenplay, and Deadline hears Marvel is already looking at a number of Asian and Asian-American directors who want to do something as potentially monumental as was accomplished in Marvel’s first viable Best Picture candidate, Black Panther. That film tied into African and African American cultures and the sensibilities of its nearly all-black cast, with a black director in Ryan Coogler and writer in Joe Robert Cole. The goal here is to do a similar thing: introduce a new hero who blends Asian and Asian American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian American filmmakers.

After Marvel Studios’ unparalleled decade of success following Iron Man, many have wondered how Kevin Feige’s next iterations of superhero franchises will distinguish themselves. Clearly an important theme will be ethnic diversity and inclusion, in front of and behind the camera.

Callaham has strong credentials in the superhero and franchise-building realms and his own experiences as a Chinese-American will inform the Shang-Chi movie mythology, sources said. His recent work includes co-writing with Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns the upcoming DC Warner Bros sequel Wonder Woman 1984, and he is writing Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2. He also wrote initial drafts of Zombieland 2, which begins production in January, and created and produced Amazon’s recent action ‘Captain Marvel’ Trailer: comedy series Jean-Claude Van Johnson, starring Jean- Brie Larson Lights It Up In Kaplan Perrone Cosmic Action Claude Van Damme. Callaham also created the Expendables franchise as well as the story for the Legendary’s Godzilla Will Ferrell Continues The reboot. Legend Of Ron Burgundy With New Podcast He’s got two comedies at Netflix: Callaham wrote the Black List-ed dark comedy caper script Jackpot, which Will Gluck will direct; and he wrote and is producing with Geoff Murphy Dies: Kiwi Channing Tatum, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, and Archer’s Adam Reed and Matt Filmmaker Who Worked On ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Thompson, the animated comedy America: The Motion Picture. Thompson is Trilogy Was 80 directing.

Rhys Thomas’ Ruby Slippers Shang-Chi first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 in December 1973, hatched Book Offers New Insights On FBI Recovery Of Stolen by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. The script will modernize the hero to avoid Shoes stereotypes that many comic characters of that era were saddled with. The comic launched around the time that Enter the Dragon became a global sensation and Brie Larson To Star In Charlie Kaufman’s Netflix martial arts films raged. In the comics, Shang-Chi is the son of China-based globalist Movie ‘I’m Thinking Of who raised and educated his progeny in his reclusive China compound, closed off to Ending Things’ the outside world. The son trained in the martial arts and developed unsurpassed

Oscars: VFX Race Includes skills. He is eventually introduced to the outside world to do his father’s bidding, and ‘Avengers’, ‘A Quiet Place’, then has to come to grips with the fact his revered father might not be the More humanitarian he has claimed to be and is closer to what others call him: The Devil’s Doctor. He also might be centuries old. The deceit makes them bitter enemies.

Marvel Studios has worked with a stable of talented filmmakers from diverse backgrounds including Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, directing next year’s Captain Marvel with Brie Larson; Coogler, directing the Black Panther sequel; Taika Waititi, who directed Thor: Ragnarok; Chloé Zhao, who will direct The Eternals; and Cate Shortland, who will direct a stand-alone film for Marvel staple Black Widow starring

ADVERTISEMENT Scarlett Johansson.

Callaham is represented by UTA, Kaplan Perrone Entertainment, and Gretchen Rush & Dan Fox at Hanson, Jacobson.

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I knew Marvel had a Shang-Chi movie in the pipe….

Easy answer for the director, Jackie Chan. That was easy!

Kick-Ass!! I can’t wait to see Marvel’s Master of Kung-Fu in live action. Shang-Chi has been around for 50 years now just like Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Ghost Rider & Blade. Some unknown comicbook character named Wolverine has been around for 50 years too. Please do justice to Shang-Chi. He DESERVES the Royal Treatment just as much as everyone else does. MAKE MINE MARVEL & EXCELSIOR!!

My math sucks. All of those characters have been around for 40+ years but none have hit the Big 5-0 yet. Yet

I’m Sorry, what’s that “Big 5-0” — exactly?

Will his father, Fu Manchu, be the villain?

In 1973 Shang-Chi was the son of arch-villain Fu Manchu. When did that change?

Unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t own Fu Manchu and they no longer have the license. They’ve changed his name couple times over the years but it’s still really him. They just can’t say it openly.

Unsaid in the article is that “the character’s father” is actually Fu Manchu, the iconic “Yellow Peril” villain created by novelist Sax Rohmer (and featured in many movies of his own. Marvel Comics has equivocated on this in recent years (for legal reasons; they don’t have full rights to the character, and have to acquire the licence when they wish to use him)… but Marvel still publishes reprints of the earlier issues, which feature him prominently (and would certainly be reflected in any movie telling his son’s origins).

I can’t imagine Disney doing a movie version without covering their asses legally on this. Has the House Of Mouse done a deal with the Rohmer estate? Or are they basically going to revamp the character from scratch?

I bet getting rid of Fu Manchu is what they mean when they say they’re getting rid of the racist stuff. You can’t get much more racist and stereotype than Fu Manchu.

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu was a good comic for the time. Update it, get rid of the stereotypes, and you have something special.

I always think this is hilarious – give a woman director a female-led movie. Give a black director a black-led movie, etc. True diversity is getting, for example, an Asian director a non-“Asian” film (See the F&F franchise, Aquaman). Marvel still has a LONG way to go.

True diversity is movies not being directed by only white male directors. Give a PoC a movie to direct for example (see Thor Ragnorak). Marvel doesn’t have a long way but is always hounded for not being inclusive, when they have actors and directors of all races and i would add gender as well.

Hell effing yeah! Asian, Kung-fu and Marvel? Count me in baby!

Good news. I’ve always enjoyed the Kung Fu movies as superhero films anyway. Nobody could be more heroic than Jackie Chan.

Just make sure it’s halfway well written, Disney.

His dad is supposed to Fu Manchu. How are they going to get the rights to clear this one?

Coat

Justin Lin or James Wan.

He was the son of Fu Man Chu, if I recall. They lost the rights to that name so now his parentage is more vague

Starring Scarlett Johansson

Ha!

Thank goodness, don’t find the best director, just one who can “identify” with the material!

Racism and ignorance assumes that both of those things can’t be found in one individual. It’s 2018. This kind of thing is not that binary.

Someone’s privilege is showing.

Or numbers. Reality. That kinda comes into play too.

The director of this movie doesn’t need to be Asian. We have had Asian directors already who have made a name for themselves. Just hire the best director.

Too bad actor Russell Wong is too old now but he would’ve been a good choice for the movie lead

This is pretty cool.

Now the question needs to be asked… Who is Shang chi?

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu was one of the most innovative and daring comics of its time. The Chinese globalist that is mentioned earlier in this article was none other then Max Rohmer’s Fu Manchu. ..who has never been portrayed properly in film. He has the potential to be one of the Great villains in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe. Another great quality of the comic was the fact that some of the characters were drawn resembling great actors. Shang-chi himself was drawn to look like Bruce Lee and Clive Weston often resembled a brooding Marlon Brando. This film and subsequent franchise has the ability to be another one of the great Marvel Adventures. It’s already been storyboarded. It is immersed in the world of exotic espionage, intrigue, amazing martial arts and science fiction. This can absolutely be fantastic. Especially with the way Fu Manchu utilized and corrupted nature in his experiments. I could write this myself. I love it. Also the extraordinary success of Crazy Rich Asians hss shown Hollywood, which is always slow in realizing the potential value of other markets, that there is an audience, provided that audience isn’t offended by stereotypical unauthentic portrayals. I can’t wait to see this. And I have waited for over 30 years. The world becomes more diverse every day. Marvel has always seen that and represented it in their work. And maybe that’s why the world loves Marvel so much right now on the big screen.

Does this mean they’ll shut up about Iron Fist now? Just kidding. The whole time I was watching Crazy Rich Asians I was thinking Henry Golding should be MCU’s first major Asian super hero.

As if they are ever going to hire anyone besides James Wan…

Assume a scenario where he indeed gets hired: Beyond your personal-opinion, is there something wrong with him?

I just recently wondered why no one gives a Hollywood movie to Jackie Chan to direct. He has his own production company, has directed both action and entire movies for 30 years, and is a perfectionist who would spend the time to do it right. If indeed Marvel is looking for an Asian director who is good and understand the material, Jackie Chan should be the top choice.

Jackie Chan would be an excellent choice to direct. My first thought though, was Stephen Chow.

I’M game, just don’t mess up the Kung Fu.He’s suppose to be a super hero and a weak Human.just stop it with the weak heroes. Do it right!

I had the first issue to the last. Shang-Chi was one of my favorite characters. Almost all mint condition. I sold close to a thousand comics sold for $200 in 1986. About 15 years ago I researched some of the issues I could remember. I had to stop because I was about to cry. Crazy!

what would be cool is if Shang-Chi was the son of The Mandarin. Not the actor pretending to be him, the actual Mandarin.

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