Back in December it was reported that Marvel Studios developing a movie focused on Shang-Chi, a superhero of Asian decent. Now, the film has found a director.
According to Deadline, Marvel Studios has chosen Short Term 12 director Destin Cretton to helm Shang-Chi. It was a top priority for the studio to find an Asian or Asian-American director for the movie.
Shang-Chi is described as a master of unarmed and weaponry-based wushu styles, who eventually joining the Avengers.
“The script will modernize the hero to avoid stereotypes that many comic characters of that era were saddled with,” Deadline said. “The comic launched around the time that Enter the Dragon became a global sensation and martial arts films raged.”
Marvel has apparently hired Chinese-American scribe Dave Callaham to write the screenplay. Callaham co-wrote Wonder Woman 1984 and is currently writing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel, Deadline said. He also created the Expendables franchise. Which confirms reports from our friends at That Hashtag Show a few months back.
Marvel hasn’t announced concrete plans for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so we will have to wait and see how Shang-Chi factors into the franchise moving forward.
Source: Deadline