According to Comic Book Movie, Chinese singer-actress Fala Chen has reportedly been tapped for a key role in Marvel Studios’ first Asian-led superhero movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Some rumors have suggested that Chen might be playing the role of MI6 Agent Leiko Wu, who is known as an ally of the titular hero in the comics.
Chen is mostly active in the Hong Kong entertainment industry and has starred in a number of Hong Kong drama series such as: Moonlight Resonance, No Regrets, Lives of Omission and Turning Point which had all earned her Best Actress and Supporting nods from local award-giving bodies. If the Shang-Chi casting news is proven true, this project would be Chen’s first U.S. feature film. She will also be making her U.S. TV debut in HBO’s upcoming limited series The Undoing starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be led by Canadian actor Simu Liu (Blood and Water, Taken), who is set to take on the titular hero in Marvel Studios’ first Asian superhero-led movie. Joining Liu are Golden Globe-winning actress Awkwafina (The Farewell) and renowned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, who is portraying the role of The Mandarin. It was also reported that Crazy Rich Asians star Michelle Yeoh was in talks for a new MCU character with Creed II star and professional heavyweight boxer Florian Munteanu also rumored to have joined the film as the secondary villain.
Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984, Zombieland 2, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse 2) wrote the script and Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) is attached to direct the project. Marvel’s goal with the film is to introduce a hero who blends Asian and Asian American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian American filmmakers.
Filming began in Australia earlier this year but was temporarily suspended due to the ongoing global pandemic. Originally scheduled for a February 2021 release, the film has now been pushed back to May 7, 2021.
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Shang-Chi, also known as The Master of Kung Fu, was first introduced in the pages of Special Marvel Edition #15 back in 1973 after they’d failed to obtain the rights to the then-popular TV series Kung Fu, which starred David Carradine. A master of fighting, Shang-Chi eventually gains the ability to create an infinite amount of replicas of himself. After Special Marvel Edition changed its name to The Hands of Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, the character went on to appear in issues of Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One. He’s also been a member of The Avengers and Heroes for Hire, the latter alongside fellow kung fu masters Daughters of the Dragon.
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for kate spade)
