Marvel has found its director forShang-Chi. We first learned of this project late last year and, while Marvel Studios hasn’t formally announced that it’s happening, it seems to be coming together quite nicely behind the scenes. Now, we have word that director Destin Daniel Cretton has been tapped to helm the project, which will see him become the first Asian filmmaker to helm a movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and will also center on an Asian protagonist, another first.
According to a new report,Destin Cretton, who is known for his previous work on movies likeShort Term 12andThe Glass Castle, has been locked down to directShang-Chi. He’ll be working from a script penned by Dave Callaham, which was revealed when news of this project first broke back in December. Callaham,also an Asian-American, previously worked onWonder Woman 1984,Zombieland 2,The Expendablesmovies and 2014’sGodzilla. He’s also been tapped by Sony to penSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2. Needless to say, the man has a knack when it comes to franchises.
As for Destin Daniel Cretton, this will put him in the realm of blockbuster filmmaking. His previous efforts have been well-respected, but he’s never taken a crack at a big budget tentpole before. Currently, he’s working on his latest effortJust Mercy, which featuresMCU stars Brie Larson(Captain Marvel) and Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther). Marvel is looking to take a lesson or two fromBlack Pantheron this one. That movie grossed $1.3 billion at the box office, on its way to a Best Picture Oscar nomination and three Oscar wins. Audiences aren’t just ready to embrace diverse voices in front of and behind the camera, their downright hungry for it.Shang-Chihas the ability to tap into a similarly underserved demographic.
Shang-Chi, for those who may not be familiar, is amaster martial artistwho was introduced in the pages of Marvel Comics back in 1973 inSpecial Marvel Edition#15. The character was eventually given his own series and is often referred to as the Master of Kung Fu.Shang-Chiwas created by writer Steve Englehart and legendary artist Jim Starlin. He is the son of Fu Manchu, who trains his son in the ways of martial arts. However, it’s eventually revealed that his father is evil, leading to conflict between them.
Currently,Marvel is keeping their plansbeyondAvengers: Endgamevery secretive. We know that aBlack Widowmovie,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3andThe Eternalsare all in development, alongside sequels likeDoctor Strange 2andBlack Panther 2, but much of what’s coming our way in the next few years remains mysterious. But it appears as though we’re getting a brand new, potentially very exciting type of hero. There is no word currently on how soon production could get underway, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted as more details on the project are made available. This news was first reported byDeadline.
