Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced Simu Liu as the titular hero, but the sequel’s future appears uncertain.
The first film was released in 2021. The earliest potential release date for a new Marvel film is 2028, so that would be a big seven year gap, something that has never happened before in the MCU.
While Simu Liu did say a few months ago that Shang-Chi 2 is happening, things have since changed within the MCU, notably the cancellation of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Here are ten reasons why Shang-Chi 2. might not happen.
1. Shang-Chi bombed at the box office
The first film earned $432 million globally, which is among the lowest-grossing of the MCU.
Three months later would see the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home bringing in nearly $2 billion dollars proving audiences still show up at movie theaters.
2. Failed to reach its “target audience“
Shang-Chi also bombed with its target audience, which we can guess is the Asians and the female audience. It’s known Chinese fans didn’t like Simu Liu in the titular role as they wanted popular Chinese actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai as the hero.
Shang-Chi also underperformed in South Korea compared to Black Widow and Eternals, where it achieved the lowest-grossing box office of the three in South Korea, while Shang-Chi was the highest-grossing of the three in the rest of the world. This suggests the South Korean audience rejected the movie.
Similar to Kevin Feige’s approach following Avengers: Endgame, Shang-Chi makes the titular character look like a bum and a slacker (according to my Asian friends). The film props Awkwafina and Meng’er Zhang’s characters but similar to The Marvels and every MCU project released post-Endgame, the female audience didn’t show up.
Who exactly is the audience for Shang-Chi?
3. Avengers Film Changes
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty which was expected to feature Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, has been canceled, potentially reducing the character’s future involvement in the MCU.
Marvel is instead going with Avengers: Doomsday.
4. Destin Daniel Cretton now on Spider-Man 4
Destin Daniel Cretton was supposed to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which is also a big reason why it is thought Simu Liu would have starred in the film.
Destin Daniel Cretton has moved on to much better and bigger things and is now directing Spider-Man 4 starring Tom Holland which films next year and gets released July 26, 2026.
5. No official Shang-Chi 2 announcement
It probably should be pointed out that Disney and Marvel have never officially announced that Shang-Chi 2 is happening. There is not official release date.
Typically, what happens is when the first movie is a success, a sequel will be announced shortly after. It has been more than three years and there still hasn’t been an official sequel announcement.
6. Simu Liu frustrated?
Back in April, Simu Liu responded to a fan that said they feel like Marvel has abandoned the Shang-Chi franchise. The actor promised the fan that the sequel is still happening.
However, recently Simu Liu responded to a TikTok video calling out Marvel Studios for not making Shang-Chi 2 sooner. He didn’t comment but only “liked” it.
7. Marvel going back to what works
Similar to why Eternals 2 will likely never happen and She-Hulk Season 2 won’t happen, Marvel is now going back to what works. Again, as announced at Comic-Con, Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Following Quantumania completely bombing, Marvel decided to move away from using Kang as the villain, again, which saw Kang Dynasty canceled. The Disney+ Marvel shows also haven’t been all that much of a hit, save Loki.
It’s been reported and rumored that Marvel is moving away from all the agenda-filled nonsense that hasn’t resonated with fans and will return to telling good stories. Along with RDJ, the Russos are also being brought back. Recently, Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman – and full of Marvel cameos including Chris Evans – made over $1.3 billion at the box office.
8. Uncertain MCU Integration
As Shang-Chi has been a one-and-done, again much like Eternals, Marvel hasn’t really connected Shang-Chi to the greater MCU. Previous to Phase 4, all the MCU characters and movies felt connected. That can’t be said for anything post-Endgame.
With Shang-Chi’s role in the broader MCU remaining undefined, and with few connections to other characters or storylines, this potentially complicated his inclusion in future projects.
9. Ten Rings Disney+ series not happening
Around the time of the release of Shang-Chi, it was said a Ten Rings Marvel series was in development at Disney+.
This was also at the time Destin Daniel Cretton signed an exclusive multi-year deal with Disney+. However, his eight episode American Born Chinese series bombed on Disney+ and has been canceled. This is likely why the Ten Rings series isn’t happening. Destin Daniel Cretton’s big Disney deal has since expired.
10. Do fans want more Shang-Chi?
Putting it all together, it has to be questioned if fans actually want more Shang-Chi in the MCU?
The box office failed to impress, only the small amount of diehard fans came out to watch who watch everything, the tie-in Disney+ show has been cancelled, Marvel is pivoting to proven successes, and Marvel apparently thinks putting Destin Daniel Cretton on Spider-Man is more important than going with the Shang-Chi sequel.
We can also add that eventually, Marvel has to make money sometime.
Simu Liu is said to be back as Shang-Chi for the third and final season of What If…? and the Marvel Zombies animated series focusing on Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, but after that is anyone’s guess.
