Destin Daniel Cretton Says of the SHANG-CHI Post-Credits Cliffhangers - "I Have Every Intention of Answering the Question"
One thing Marvel movies are famous for is the mid-credits and post-credits scene. They aren’t the first films to have done this, but they have baked the formula into their stories, so fans know to stick around until the film runs out completely as to not miss a moment that teases a future character or storyline.
But there has been the occasional post-credits scene that writes a check the franchise doesn’t cash right away, and there’s one in particular we are still waiting on.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton talked about his Marvel directorial debut, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), and how it had some post-credits scenes that have not been revisited.
In the first scene, Wong teleports Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) to the Sanctum Sanctorum, where they meet Bruce Banner (in human form) and Captain Marvel (via hologram) to analyze the Ten Rings.
Testing shows the rings are far older than 1,000 years and do not match any known Earth, alien, or Vibranium technology. When Shang-Chi uses them, they emit a powerful cosmic energy signal—acting as a beacon calling out to an unknown origin or entity off-world. Wong officially welcomes Shang-Chi and Katy into the wider hero fold.
In the second scene, Shang-Chi’s sister, Xialing (Meng'er Zhang), takes over the Ten Rings organization, and it’s confirmed that the ten rings would return. But it’s five years down the road, and we haven’t received a sequel to the film to answer the questions that were left open.
In a recent interview with The Wrap, the filmmaker, who went on to direct episodes of Wonder Man and the acclaimed feature Spider-Man: Brand New Day, talked about the situation, saying:
“I do think it’s frustrating when these things are like left out in the open and you never see them. And Shang-Chi is one of those. It’s still hanging out there. I have every intention of answering the question.”
Cretton takes into account that this era of the MCU is so different from it’s first few phases, and explains:
“When you really look at what happened to the industry, at least from my perspective, it was just like everything went to shit after that. I feel like if Marvel was where it was before, we would have had maybe two sequels already. Who knows?”
Simu Liu has also aired his grievances on the long wait for Shang-Chi 2, but at least he is making his return in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th. Destin Daniel Cretton has been clear that he is set to return for the Shang-Chi sequel, but it’s just a matter of Marvel officially working it into the schedule. We will let you know when that day comes.