Deadline has reported that Marvel Studios is planning a Shang-Chi film that will hopefully launch a new franchise based on Asian protagonist of the same name. The studio has reportedly signed Dave Callaham to write the screenplay and is looking to hire Asian and Asian-American directors for the film.
What’s happening:
- According to Deadline, Marvel Studios is looking to bring the stories of Shang-Chi to the big screen and has reportedly already signed Dave Callaham to write the screenplay.
- Marvel is also looking to hire Asian and Asian-American directors to helm the proposed franchise.
- Just like Ryan Coogler did with the massively successful Marvel’s Black Panther, Deadline says “the goal here is to do a similar thing: introduce a new hero who blends Asian and Asian American themes, crafted by Asian and Asian American filmmakers”
- Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige has indicated on several occasions that the Marvel Studios legacy wants to focus on diversity and inclusion.
About Dave Callaham:
- The Chinese-American Callaham has plenty of experience with superheroes and franchise-building and will also pull from his own personal experiences to create the Shang-Chi mythology.
- Among his many credits are:
- Served as co-writer with Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johnson on the DC Warner Bros film Wonder Woman 1984
- Writer of the sequel for Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2
- Writer on early drafts of Zombieland 2, which will begin production this January
- Creator and producer of the Amazon’s series Jean-Claude Van Johnson, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.
- Creator of the Expendables franchise and the story for the Godzilla reboot.
- Writer of the Netflix dark comedy caper Jackpot, which Will Gluck will direct
- Writer and co-producer of Netflix’s America: The Motion Picture. Callaham is working on this project with Channing Tatum, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Adam Reid, and Matt Thompson.
Shang-Chi in Marvel Comics:
- Shang-Chi also known as the “Master of Kung Fu” made his first appearance in Special Marvel Edition #15 in December 1973 and was created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin.
- The script will be updated to fit in with the times to avoid unsavory stereotypes often associated with comics of earlier eras. Shang-Chi’s character was launched around the time Enter the Dragon was a global sensation and martial arts films were in high demand.
- According to the comic lore, Shang-Chi is the son of Fu Manchu, and was raised and educated in a reclusive China compound, closed off to the outside world.
- His training led to impressive martial arts skills and he was finally introduced to the outside world only to do his father’s bidding.
- Shang-Chi then learns that the father he respects is closer to what others call him: The Devil’s Doctor and less of the humanitarian he believed him to be.