The son of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi grew up in a fortress, trained from childhood by his father, Xu Wenwu, a centuries-old warlord who wears ten mysterious rings of incredible power. Wenwu raised him to be an assassin. As a teenager, Shang-Chi ran away, crossed the ocean and rebuilt himself as Shaun, a hotel valet in San Francisco who spends his nights doing karaoke with his best friend Katy.
That double life is the hook of his story. He is funny, modest and a bit lost, but he is also one of the most skilled fighters in the MCU, and the past he ran from is not done with him.
Shang-Chi's titles
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, recommended. His origin and only solo film so far.
- What If...?, optional. An alternate-universe animated appearance.
- Avengers: Doomsday, essential on our list. Upcoming; plot details are not announced.
- Marvel Zombies, optional. An animated series in a separate, zombie-filled universe.
Turning points, spoiler-free
The film kicks off with a fight on a San Francisco bus, one of the best action sequences in the MCU, and it tells Shaun that hiding is no longer an option. He reunites with his sister, Xialing, who has built a life of her own after being left behind, and soon both are pulled back toward their father's plans.
The story then heads to Ta Lo, a hidden village tied to their late mother's family. There Shang-Chi has to choose between the brutal training of his father and the gentler teachings of his mother's side. Without giving away the ending, he leaves the film with a new responsibility and a direct line to the rest of the MCU. A mid-credits scene with Wong, Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers makes that connection clear.
The people in his life
Katy, played by Awkwafina, is his best friend and the comic heart of the film, though she proves surprisingly useful in a fight. Xialing is the sister he abandoned, and their reunion is complicated rather than warm. Wenwu, played by Tony Leung, is one of the MCU's most human villains: a dangerous man driven by grief rather than pure greed. Their aunt, Ying Nan, played by Michelle Yeoh, guides Shang-Chi in Ta Lo, and Wong connects him to the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj.
Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi. He handles the comedy and the heavy family drama with equal ease, and he trained extensively to perform much of the film's martial arts choreography. His easy charm makes Shaun likable long before he becomes a hero.
Before Marvel, Liu was best known as Jung on the sitcom Kim's Convenience. He later appeared as one of the Kens in Barbie.
How to watch his story
Watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings first. It stands on its own, so you do not need much MCU homework; seeing Avengers: Endgame helps a little, since the film is set in the world that came after it. Then look ahead to Avengers: Doomsday, his next listed live-action appearance.
What If...? and Marvel Zombies are bonuses. Watch them if you enjoy animation and alternate takes, but do not treat them as part of his main timeline. More heroes from his corner of the MCU are in our character directory.