Marvel Studios Reportedly Looking at Donnie Yen and POWER RANGERS Star Ludi Lin for Roles in SHANG-CHI
It looks like Marvel Studios is actively on the hunt for actors to join their upcoming martial arts movie Shang-Chi. According to That Hashtag Show, the studio is reportedly going to be meeting with Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Ludi Lin (Power Rangers, Aquaman) to take on roles in the movie.
The report says that Marvel is “interested” and looking at casting Lin in the title role of Shang-Chi. He’s just one of many actors that the studio is going to be meeting with for the role. Last year, after word got out that Marvel was developing a Shang-Chi movie, Lin talked about wanting to take on the role saying:
“It’s definitely something I want to do. To do an Asian-centric superhero. To tell that story. I mean ideally, I’d like to design my own superhero, make my own creation. But I think the Marvel world is pretty incredible as well.
“Especially in honor of Stan Lee, the person who created this entire, I mean like an entire universe. You know what I mean? It’s pretty incredible. And I think it would be great because it would take another big step towards representation.”
As for Donnie Yen, there’s no information on what character he is wanted for. But the role has been described as a “wise, older statesman.”
Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12, The Glass Castle) is set to direct the film from a script written by Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2). The studio is also said to be gearing up for a November production start. This would get the film in theaters by 2021.
Shang-Chi first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 in December 1973 and was created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. He is the son of a sinister Chinese mastermind and was raised and trained in the martial arts by his father and his instructors. He is described as a spy, a romantic, a philosopher, and an Avenger and is one of the best martial artists in the Marvel universe.
He is eventually introduced to the outside world to do his father’s bidding, and then has to come to grips with the fact his revered father might not be the humanitarian he has claimed to be and is closer to what others call him: The Devil’s Doctor. He also might be centuries old. The deceit makes them bitter enemies.
The film adaptation is also said to “modernize the hero to avoid stereotypes that many comic characters of that era were saddled with. The comic launched around the time that Enter the Dragon became a global sensation and martial arts films raged.”
What do you think about the possibility of Yen and Lin joining Shang Chi? Who would you like to see take on the lead role?