It was hard to believe at first that Simu Liu would be able to make a major impact in the MCU and amongst its fandom with Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings, but boy was everyone wrong about it. Not only did the film make a huge impact with its release amongst the fanbase, but it also proved to be one of Marvel Studios’ biggest blockbusters during the Covid-19 Pandemic without opening its doors in China.
This film also acted as a milestone for the Holywood industry in showcasing diversity in representation with the majority of the cast belonging to the Asian Community. And with this representation, the people were given an opportunity to express their feelings.
After Tarantino expressed his displeasure about how the Hollywood industry is heavily influenced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this day and age, Simu Liu was quick to remind him that people like him and Scorsese acted like gatekeepers during the Golden Age of cinema.
Simu Liu Slams Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese
Simu Liu acted like a wild card for Marvel Studios when it came to him becoming a part of the MCU in Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings. With the little prior build-up of the superhero in the grand scheme, the film came in like a hurricane and blew away all the doubts that people had regarding him leading the franchise. The project became the first-ever film to feature an Asian lead to contribute $400+ Million to the Covid-19 Pandemic box office.
But as they say, you can’t please everyone, there were some influential personalities that didn’t agree with how the MCU was affecting the whole industry. Quentin Tarantino, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, known for creating classics like Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained, is known for openly stating his disdain for the cinematic juggernaut, calling the MCU childish and depreciating. In one similar instance, Liu thought that this should be appropriately responded to, where he replied to the tweet, saying:
“If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie. I am in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent auteurs. But they don’t get to point their nose at me or anyone.”
His comment about the popular quirk of the legendary directors not including representatives of non-white ethnicities made most people realize that it wouldn’t be easy to gain stardom with their opinions for someone that belonged to another community.
You may also like: “They’re not movie stars”: Quentin Tarantino Slams Marvel Actors Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, Claims They Aren’t Real Hollywood Icons Like Clint Eastwood or Tom Cruise
What Does Shang-Chi Have To Offer Next?
The huge success of Shang-Chi and the subsequent connection of the film to the larger narrative are clear hints that the franchise is not going anywhere anytime soon. With the connections of the 10 rings with the Eternals, the studio solidified the presence of the superhero as one of the crucial parts of the next phases of the Multiverse Saga in the MCU. Furthermore, it is very likely that we will be getting more standalone Shang-Chi films in the future along with the crossovers.
You may also like: ‘I’m going to be busy the next few years’: Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Teases More MCU Appearance in Phase 5 & 6, Fans Ask If He’s Going To Become Next Wong
Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, now available on Disney+
Source: IndieWire
