‘Shang-Chi’ Star Simu Liu Responds to Bob Chapek; ‘We Are Not an Experiment’
With the MCU’s newest release less than a month away, Disney’s CEO recently spoke of the experimental nature of the film’s theatrical release; Shang-Chi star Simu Liu Responds to Bob Chapek, assuring him that they are much more than an “experiment.”
Anticpation has reached a fever pitch for the debut of Marvel newest super hero, Shang-Chi, as the character is set to make his premerie appearance in the film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Wenwu (Tony Leung) and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) in Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021.
The film is the second of Marvel’s four title release slate for 2021 and is seeking to have similar success to the previous Marvel release of the year, Black Widow.
The film will tell the story of Shang-Chi; a skilled martial artist and assassin desperate to escape the shadow of his father, Wenwu, who has built an empire while being known by the name, Mandarin.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO4xEQ3–OI
Set to release September 3rd, the movie is surprisingly not following the distribution model that many Disney and Pixar films have followed for more than a year; including Marvel’s previous release, Black Widow.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of Disney’s releases have been exclusive to Disney+ with the companies premiere access package; which allows audiences to see the film from the comfort of their own home on release day, with a one time, $30 charge.
Source: bgr.com
Screenrant.com first reported the news that Bob Chapek, speaking at the Disney Q3 earnings call, confirmed the long-rumored news that Shang-Chi will receive a 45-day exclusive theatrical release prior to its availability on the company streaming platform, Disney+.
The departure from the premiere access model is certainly a gamble for the company; which led to the CEO calling the release an, “interesting experiment,” for the studios ever changing commitment to specific distribution models.
Photo: Getty Images
Referring to a film of the company’s staple brand didn’t sit well with some, and the film’s star would not allow the remark to go unchecked.
Following the statement, the actor took to twitter as Simu Liu responded to Bob Chapek in a very telling note about the determination of the films cast and crew to be more than just a film studio “experiment.”
We are not an experiment.
We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.
We are the surprise.
I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US. pic.twitter.com/IcyFzh0KIb
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) August 14, 2021
Liu used his social media platform to speak of his cast mates and fellow crew members as “underdogs,” “underestimated,” and “ceiling breakers.”
The reality is that Marvel is bringing to market the genre’s first Asian superhero; to refer to the potential transcendent nature of the films all Asian cast and crew as an “experiment,” feels derivative to the potential importance of the character to culture and representation in the superhero genre.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO4xEQ3–OI
Simu Liu concluded his response to Chapek with the perfect sentiment; “we are the surprise.”
We all cant wait for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to shock the world this September, and see Simu Liu, and the entire cast and crew of the film, truly make history.
