Working in 'Shang-Chi' feels like a moment in culture: Liu
Chinese-Canadian star Simu Liu says he is aware that being the first Asian to headline a Marvel film comes with a huge responsibility but hopes that his work in Shang-Chi will speak to an audience that has rarely found "aspirational" representation on screen. Liu has headlined Marvel Studios' martial arts superhero film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
The film is scheduled to be released on September 3
The film is scheduled to be released in the country on September 3. In an interview over Zoom call, the 32-year-old actor said he realizes that his work in the film isn't just any "role" as it comes with the responsibility of representation.
This is more than just a role: Liu
"It feels like an incredible honor. It's like we are giving the world something that I never had as a kid, which is the ability to see myself reflected on screen, in a meaningful, aspirational, heroic way," Liu said. "I don't want to call it pressure, but there's a sense that this is more than just a role that you take," he said.
For Liu, 'Shang-Chi' serves as testimony that dreams come true
"This is a moment in culture, a moment in history and hopefully, it'll be followed by many more just like it," he added. For Liu, who migrated to Canada at the age of five, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings serves as a testimony that dreams come true, especially for those who may have struggled to see themselves represented in pop culture.
It feels incredibly empowering but with tinge of anxiety: Liu
"Sometimes it gives me a little bit of anxiety knowing that there is this kind of stuff resting on my shoulders," the China-born actor said. "Other times, it feels incredibly empowering because I would have given anything to have had somebody, when I was younger, to look up to and show me what was possible," he added.
The film proves that anything is possible: Liu
"My hope is that it doesn't matter if you are six years old or 16 or 26, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be a movie that people will be able to watch and understand that anything is possible," he said.
