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Shang Chi, everyone’s favorite MCU master of kung fu, is gearing up for his sequel already. As the first Phase 4 movie set after Avengers: Endgame, he had a lot to live up to. Trailers certainly seemed interesting, and the first reactions online were hopeful. That said, the movie blew expectations out of the water. Less than a month after its release, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings became the biggest box office hit of the entire year! It’s no surprise then that Shang Chi 2 is underway. According to officials at Marvel, Shang Chi 2 filming will likely begin in 2023, with an expected release date of 2024.
Shang Chi and His Rings Hold a Place in the MCU Ring
To give a rundown on what’s so great about it, Marvel has once again pulled a phenomenal origin story. Shang Chi focuses on the main character of the same name, who was raised by the head of the Ten Rings criminal organization. If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because it is. The Ten Rings was the name of the terrorists that threatened Tony Stark in Iron Man. However, this movie does an excellent job of making the distinction between those two entities. The one in Shang Chi is the original and has been run by Shang’s father for years with the power of the Ten Rings (a powerful and mysterious set of artifacts).
As a runaway from his father’s legacy, Shang (also called Sean) is forced to stop him from doing something drastic with the ancient power he wields. Overall, it’s a perfect example of the Marvel style and a great watch. For those that haven’t been able or willing to see Shang Chi in theaters, fear not! The movie will drop on Disney+ in just a couple of weeks on November 12.
What Will the Sequel Be About?
To get into what Shang Chi 2 could be about, we have to get into mild spoiler territory. After defeating the bad guy and taking the rings for himself, Shang Chi is now ready to fulfill his destiny. After a brief respite, that destiny comes rather quick. Wong, Doctor Strange’s right-hand man, comes for them to investigate the Ten Rings. Simultaneously, he meets a couple of Avengers and gets brought into the fold. Turns out, the Rings are sending out some kind of cosmic signal. With that and his sister’s troublesome plans, there’s plenty to work with.
Shang Chi is the flagship film of Marvel’s Phase 4, and with such success, we’re sure to see more soon. That said, there are at least eight confirmed films ahead of him. With so much content until then, it’s anybody’s game on where we’ll be by his expected sequel. Likely, Shang Chi 2 filming won’t take place until at least the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 comes in mid-2023. Either way, fans are eager to see him return.