When Simu Liu stepped into the MCU as Shang-Chi in 2021, it was more than just another blockbuster debut, it was a watershed moment for Asian representation in modern mainstream cinema.
Now, five years after Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings proved that a Chinese lead could carry a major superhero franchise to over US$430 million worldwide, fans are finally getting their next look at the hero.
While the official Shang-Chi sequel remains in development with production yet to begin, Liu is not keeping audiences waiting much longer. Taking center stage at San Diego Comic Con alongside his Marvel Studios co stars on July 25, the 37 year old Canadian actor reflected on stepping back into the Marvel fold for Avengers: Doomsday. “It’s been a minute, but it’s damn good to be back”, says Liu.
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A sequel to the superhero blockbuster Avengers: Endgame (2019), Avengers: Doomsday features a sprawling ensemble cast that includes Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Channing Tatum, David Harbour and Hayley Atwell, all reprising their roles from previous Marvel films.
The story follows heroes from three different universes coming together to take on Doctor Doom (Downey Jr), with a first trailer released earlier in July showing Shang-Chi facing off with mutant superhero Gambit, played by Tatum.
For Liu, returning to the role after a half-decade hiatus is not just about suiting up again; it is about honouring a character who has matured alongside his audience. Though Shang-Chi has not been on screen since 2021, Liu assures fans that the character’s narrative trajectory has not stalled.
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“If I know my character, he’s been off somewhere training or defusing situations and saving the day. Because when you meet him at this point in (Doomsday), he’s a lot more confident and a more self-assured version of who he was when we last saw him,” says Liu, who will also appear in Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027.
The actor thoroughly enjoyed battling it out with Tatum, the 46-year-old American actor of Magic Mike fame. Tatum’s energy on set matched his own, and both did much of their own fights and stunts.
“He’s a lot like me – when he sees something on a page, like a fight scene, he’s like, ‘Oh, I want to be the one to do it’. And knowing you have a dance partner who is as willing to be down and dirty is just the best,” says Liu, who also starred in the 2025 science fiction series The Copenhagen Test.
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Beyond the physical demands of the role, Avengers: Doomsday represents a collision of generational pop culture milestones, balancing both high gravity stakes and pure nostalgia.
“It just feels epic. It’s the culmination of so many different movies and there are these incredible stakes. So there’s definitely a gravity and a seriousness to it. But at the same time, there’s this joy in meeting characters you never thought you’d see again – for example, Sir Ian McKellen reprising the role of Magneto and Sir Patrick Stewart playing Professor Xavier (from the X-Men film franchise).
Some of these characters have been around since I was 10. And getting now to interact with them, it’s just unbelievably joyful,” says Liu, who is engaged to 29 year old Allison Hsu, a Taiwanese American marketing executive. “And I feel like the joy we felt, the audience will feel.”
Yet, even as hype builds for Avengers: Doomsday, the question on every fan’s mind remains: where is the Shang Chi sequel? Liu is as impatient as the fans for filming to get under way, a topic he has clearly been asked about often. “I sound like a broken record at this point, but it is happening,” he told People magazine earlier in 2026.
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At Comic Con, he shakes his head ruefully when the topic comes up yet again, choosing to focus on the community’s lasting support. “I’m going to take the high road here and say that it’s really incredible how much the fans continue to show up for this character and express their enthusiasm. I hope they continue to do so because I think it is making a difference,” he adds.
“Even five years out, people still come up to me and tell me how much they appreciated the movie,” he says of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, which earned more than US$430 million (S$554 million) at the global box office. “And I can’t wait to do more. Unfortunately, there are things that are outside of my control, but I’m ready and waiting.”
