The cast of 'Shang-Chi' on why now is the right time for an Asian superhero.
The cast of Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings talk about the importance of representation, why now is the time for an Asian superhero, and how they found out they were about to join the Marvel universe.
Video Transcript
KEVIN POLOWY: The significance of "Shang-Chi" can't be understated, as it's Marvel's first Asian-led superhero movie, at long last. What do you guys think can be the cultural or social power of this movie, especially this specific moment in time? We've had this deeply troubling uptick in bias and hate crimes against the Asian community. Simu, you said something to the effect of like, maybe it could change the world.
SIMU LIU: I just think it's, you know, in physics you learn of equal and opposing forces. When you see so much prejudice and hate going on around you, I think I want to-- we all want to meet that with an equal and opposing force of positivity and joy and celebration. And I very much think that that's what this movie is. It's a celebration of our culture, of our very varied perspectives across an entire spectrum of Asian characters, some of whom are from America and some of whom are from Asia, but all of whom embody a small piece of what it means to be Asian.
AWKWAFINA: Anything that I think shines a light on groups that have not had their moment. And I think that in superhero world, what it means for there to be a superhero like Shang-Chi is important for kids to see a piece of themselves, right? We're asking people to see our culture from a specific perspective that I think is universal in a lot of ways. So I think in that way, it does really lend itself to a conversation about just openness and understanding. Yeah.
MENG'ER ZHANG: I totally agree. And I think the world is ready for an Asian superhero.
KEVIN POLOWY: Simu, probably stating the obvious, but this role feels like a game changer for you. You are Marvel's newest marquee superhero. Not many of you guys in the world.
Where were you when you got the call that this part was yours? What's going through your head? How did you react? How did you celebrate?
SIMU LIU: Yeah. I was at home. I was in my underwear. I've said this a couple of times. I was in my underwear. I was eating shrimp crackers. I was just like, not ready to get that news right then and there.
But of course, it came to me in the form of a phone call, unknown number from Burbank, California, which is very mysterious. But I kind of had an inkling. And I picked up, and indeed it was Mr. Kevin Feige who, as we know, is the architect of the MCU and also the changer of many, many lives. He was with Destin on the call, our amazing, amazing director, and he offered me the role of Shang-Chi.
But then they were like, you're going to go to San Diego in four days. And you're going to go out on stage in front of 8,000 screaming fans. And you're just going to be the newest superhero in the MCU. And please don't tell anyone.
And then he just like hung up the phone. And I was like, well, what do you-- I don't know how to keep a secret like this. So it was the first and only time--
AWKWAFINA: Oh, he told everyone.
SIMU LIU: I told everyone. I tweeted it. No, it was the first and only time I've ever lied to Kevin Feige. Because I picked up the phone right away and I called my best friend. I called my parents.
AWKWAFINA: Did he know that story?
SIMU LIU: I think so. I think a part of him must know. That's asking a lot. Don't tell your parents.
KEVIN POLOWY: It's probably harder for your best friend than your parents to keep that secret, too, once they got it as well.
SIMU LIU: I think you just need somebody to like, be happy with, right, because you're just all, you're just containing it in a bubble in there.
AWKWAFINA: Not even happy. Just like, what?
SIMU LIU: Yeah.
AWKWAFINA: You know. Just like, what's going on, yeah.
KEVIN POLOWY: Meng'er, this is your first major Hollywood role, I believe, which is absolutely crazy. You would never know it. How daunting was it to make that kind of debut in a major Marvel superhero movie?
MENG'ER ZHANG: Yeah. I mean, this is my very first film ever. And I didn't even know I was auditioning for a Marvel film when I sent my self tapes. I just sent my self tapes.
I got a call back. And when they flew me to do a screen test with Simu, when I saw that name, that's when I realized that, OK, I was auditioning for "Shang-Chi." And I still remember when I got the message from my lawyer. It's a very long, fully English message.
And I didn't read through. I just scrolled down to the very bottom. And I saw, "Welcome to the Marvel Universe." But I kept that secret. I didn't tell my parents. I didn't tell anyone.
SIMU LIU: I know, I know. You're much better than me.
MENG'ER ZHANG: See? See? It's not hard. You just--
AWKWAFINA: I have to say, I kept mine a little secret, too.
MENG'ER ZHANG: Right?
SIMU LIU: Oh, boy. Oh, boy. OK. All right. Let's chill out. All right? I feel a little exposed. I didn't tell everybody. I just told like 40 or 50--
AWKWAFINA: He's told one person.
KEVIN POLOWY: Inner circle. Inner circle.
SIMU LIU: My closest friends. That was it. That's it. That was all.
KEVIN POLOWY: Your whole high school class.
SIMU LIU: Yeah. Yeah.
KEVIN POLOWY: I want to check in on Florian, on his super-- I mean, Florian, you've done the Rocky "Creed" verse. Marvel is obviously its own scale. How surreal was it for you to find yourself in this world, and with the chainsaw as an arm on top of it all.
FLORIAN MUNTEANU: I mean, to be honest with you, this whole road so far seems to me-- I mean, when I made "Creed," when I first took that first step into the industry, it felt surreal. And this is basically the second childhood dream that comes, that becomes reality.
I mean, I always wanted to be a child-- I always wanted to be a superhero, like probably every kid in his childhood. And I am now a superhero joining a fabulous cast like that. It still feels surreal to me, and I'm just honored and privileged to be part of this wonderful cast.
