Actor Simu Liu, known for his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has expressed his surprise at the star-studded cast reveal for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film, particularly the inclusion of veteran X-Men actors Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart. The full lineup was unveiled during a recent livestream event, leaving even returning MCU actors like Liu in the dark about who else would be joining the ensemble.
Speaking on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Liu admitted his astonishment upon learning that McKellen and Stewart, renowned for their portrayals of Magneto and Professor X in the X-Men franchise, would be part of Doomsday. “I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced. These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit,” he said.
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Liu also joked about the extreme secrecy surrounding Marvel projects, attributing it to past spoiler leaks from MCU stars Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk). “I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity,” Liu explained, “But I didn’t know who else they were announcing. They don’t tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don’t tell us.”
The Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal also included other actors from the X-Men universe, such as Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops), leading some to speculate about a potential Avengers vs. X-Men storyline.
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Despite his initial surprise, Liu conveyed his excitement about returning to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday, which is slated for release on May 1, 2026. While his character Shang-Chi was initially expected to play a significant role in the Multiverse Saga, this will be his first appearance since his debut film. He expressed anticipation at the prospect of sharing the screen with such esteemed actors, even if their characters’ paths may not directly cross in the film.
