Marvel is entering into the world of martial arts films soon as we near closer to the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and the studio has dropped a new trailer for the film. This is easily the most straightforward trailer we’ve seen, and there’s plenty new to pick apart in it including a good look at the actual 10 rings, the father/son storyline, and a brief look at what appears to be classic Marvel villain/hero/alien/dragon Fing Fang Foom but may just be what other materials call the “Great Protector.” Hulk villain the Abomination also seems to be back.
As the trailer illustrates, the film will introduce the world to Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) as he confronts his evil father/trainer Wenwu (Tony Leung), a new character not just to the Marvel Cinematic Universe but comics in general. However, theories run wild that he is the actual Mandarin after we were all faked out by Ben Kingsley in Iron Man 3. Shang-Chi must confront his past and become a hero so he can eventually team up with whatever other Avengers are around three to four movies from now.
The film also stars Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, and Ronny Chieng. It is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who is best known for Short Term 12 and Just Mercy.
But cycling back to MCU cameos, there is a brief moment in the Shang Chi trailer where it appears that Wong from Doctor Strange is battling Abomination from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk in a cage. Just what that has to do with anything isn’t known, but clearly the mystical arts of Doctor Strange play a large role in this film as well. So there’s some connectivity there, but why Abomination is here is a total mystery. Maybe Disney is setting up his return in She-Hulk.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings releases in theaters on Sept. 3, 2021.
