It's official: Shang-Chi is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The massive Avengers: Doomsday livestream confirmed that Simu Liu will reprise his role in the upcoming ensemble film. However, due to Marvel Studios' stringent anti-spoiler policies, Liu remained tight-lipped, even as his name appeared alongside other MCU icons on the back of a chair during the announcement.
Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was dominated by veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all set to appear, confirming the X-Men's significant presence in the film. Grammer, who famously portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films, made a brief appearance in the MCU through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, along with Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops), have yet to make their MCU debut. This raises the intriguing question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?
"I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity," Liu shared during a recent appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show. "But I didn't know who else they were announcing. They don't tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don't tell us."
Liu's comment refers to the well-known leaks by Holland about the MCU's Spider-Man series and Ruffalo's tendency to reveal plot points about the Avengers. In response, Marvel bosses have clamped down on spoilers, keeping both new and veteran cast members in the dark.
Liu, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, was astounded by some of the names announced alongside him. "I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced," he said during the interview. "These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit."
AnswerSee ResultsLiu first portrayed Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, but the character has yet to reappear on the big or small screen. With a release date set for May 1, 2026, and a growing list of attached actors, Avengers: Doomsday remains shrouded in mystery. However, fans can expect more details to emerge over the next year, whether they're spoilers or not.
Meanwhile, MCU enthusiasts have also been buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.'s hair after the Iron Man actor sent out a Doctor Doom-themed invitation for his 60th birthday party.
