A new rumor suggests that Shang-Chi, Marvel’s “Master of Kung Fu,” will be coming to Netflix and Marvel’s Iron Fist Series. Casting for the character has reportedly just begun.
The rumor comes from That Hashtag Show, the same show that broke the news of Finn Jones being cast in the lead role of Danny Rand in the series, and so is obviously an outlet with a solid source tied to Iron Fist. The rumor states that Marvel and Netflix are considering Shang-Chi for his own spinoff series. In fairness, that’s a rumor we’ve heard about practically every hero appearing in Marvel’s Netflix series, and Marvel has continually said that it’s open to pretty much anything if the fan reception warrants it.
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For those unfamiliar, Shang-Chi is arguably the Marvel Universe’s greatest martial artist. Unlike Iron Fist, Shang-Chi has no superpowers or supernatural gifts. His abilities come entirely from skill and training.
Shang-Chi was introduced in 1973 as the son of pulp villain Fu Manchu, whom Marvel had purchased the rights to at the time. He’s worked for MI-6, been a member of the Heroes for Hire, and joined the Avengers. Interestingly, Shang-Chi plays a major role in the Shadowland storyline, which some feel Daredevil is headed towards adapting.
The report states that Marvel and Netflix are exclusively auditioning Asian males for the role of Shang-Chi, so there should be no concern about whitewashing here. Got a great Asian actor in mind? Let us know your pick for Shang-Chi in the comments below.
Production on Iron Fist is expected to begin in April, and it is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2017.
