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Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, responded to the controversy surrounding Shang-Chi during a cloud interview with a renowned Chinese film critic published on Monday.
After the studio's first Chinese superhero film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was announced in 2019, the details around the film have created fierce controversy. For Chinese and wider audience worldwide, one of the biggest flashpoints is the issue of Shang-Chi's father in the first issues of the original comic books.
The character, Fu Manchu, is widely considered a composite of negative Chinese stereotypes shaped by nearly one hundred years of Western misunderstanding and prejudices. Angry Chinese patriotic internet users have been especially incensed by the connection.
It is one of the truths that Fu Manchu was a part of that story in the early comics. But Fu Manchu is not a Marvel character; he is not a character we own or would ever want to own. That was changed in the comics many, many, many years ago. We never had any intention of [representing him] in this movie. Fu Manchu is not in this movie in any way, shape or form, Feige affirmed.
It is important for people to know and understand that we want heroes that our fans can look up to, he said to film critic Raymond Zhou.
The title character, Shang-Chi, is inspired by Chinese legendary kung fu star Bruce Lee and played by Liu Simu. Born in Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Liu immigrated to Canada with his parents when he was five. Before Shang-Chi movie, he was an unknown actor, but Feige said Marvel's philosophy is about finding the best person for the part and allowing them to become the character, adding, Liu really was able to embody the heroism, the flaws, and all of the related abilities.
Veteran Hong Kong-based actor Tony Leung stars in the movie as Shang-Chi's father, an entirely new character named Wenwu.
This is a story of love between a father and a son, but with misunderstanding and conflict. That's what we expect people to see in the movie between these two amazing actors, Feige said.
He also revealed how Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a pure kung fu movie plus Marvel elements influenced by Chinese film gurus from Ang Lee to Zhang Yimou as well as Hong Kong cinema from the 1980s and 1990s. The production was also buoyed by a spectacular stunt team, many of whom are long-time collaborators with Jackie Chan.
Shang-Chi, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, also stars several actors of Asian descendant, including Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Benedict Wong, Fala Chen, Ronny Chieng, and Zhang Meng’er. It is set for release in some markets, including North America, on Sept. 3 after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there is no opening date set for China, but Disney is pushing for release in the world's biggest film market.
