OPINION: Shang-Chi should’ve just been an Iron Fist reboot
I've had this thought for some time, but seeing that there have been more vocal opinions recently about the misuse of Shang Chi I thought I'd post my thoughts.
It’s pretty obvious that Marvel completely fumbled Shang-Chi, which sucks because it was one of the few genuinely good post-Endgame movies. But I'm thinking that maybe his place in the MCU was doomed from the start.
It took a very obscure character, gave him a solid spotlight, delivered much needed Asian representation, and had some great Hong Kong–style action scenes. It's probably the only introduction to a widely unknown character in Phase 4 that was well received. Marvel has since tried this with Eternals, Echo, and IronHeart with very mixed results.
And then... they did absolutely nothing with him.
Either there was never a real plan after the movie despite the post-credit tease, or whatever plan existed got tossed when Kang Dynasty was scrapped (I suspect Destin Daniel Cretton would have made sure to utilize him).
Which is why... **Shang-Chi should’ve just been an Iron Fist reboot.**
Iron Fist is simply a bigger and more recognizable character. He’s been in live action already, shows up in animated series, and appears in video games. On the other hand, Shang-Chi had basically zero mainstream awareness before his movie.
So what about Danny Rand already existing? Marvel has been extremely inconsistent about acknowledging the Netflix shows, so I really don’t think people would’ve cared if they rebooted Iron Fist entirely. They could’ve even recast Danny as Asian American. That alone would’ve fixed one of the biggest criticisms of the character.
The whole trope of a white dude going to a mystical Asian land and becoming the best has been beaten into the ground at this point. Looking at you Dr Strange and Batman. Reimagining Danny or passing the mantle would’ve been way more interesting.
They also could’ve focused on Danny training a new Iron Fist like Lin Lie. Shang-Chi could’ve even existed inside an Iron Fist movie instead of being his own thing.
And imagine Iron Fist with actual big screen martial arts choreography handled by veteran Hong Kong fight coordinators. That’s literally what the character is built for.
Iron Fist also fits way more naturally into the MCU. He can show up in Daredevil, Spider-Man, or any other street level New York story. He has a more iconic look and honestly would sell to the masses better. Unless Marvel has plans of bringing Agents of Atlas to the MCU, I don't quite know where Shang Chi fits outside of basically filling Iron Fist’s role. Having both characters around just feels redundant.
**TLDR:** Shang-Chi was good but had no long-term plan. Iron Fist is more recognizable, fits the MCU better, and Shang-Chi feels like Marvel accidentally reinvented Iron Fist without knowing what to do afterward.
It’s pretty obvious that Marvel completely fumbled Shang-Chi, which sucks because it was one of the few genuinely good post-Endgame movies. But I'm thinking that maybe his place in the MCU was doomed from the start.
It took a very obscure character, gave him a solid spotlight, delivered much needed Asian representation, and had some great Hong Kong–style action scenes. It's probably the only introduction to a widely unknown character in Phase 4 that was well received. Marvel has since tried this with Eternals, Echo, and IronHeart with very mixed results.
And then... they did absolutely nothing with him.
Either there was never a real plan after the movie despite the post-credit tease, or whatever plan existed got tossed when Kang Dynasty was scrapped (I suspect Destin Daniel Cretton would have made sure to utilize him).
Which is why... **Shang-Chi should’ve just been an Iron Fist reboot.**
Iron Fist is simply a bigger and more recognizable character. He’s been in live action already, shows up in animated series, and appears in video games. On the other hand, Shang-Chi had basically zero mainstream awareness before his movie.
So what about Danny Rand already existing? Marvel has been extremely inconsistent about acknowledging the Netflix shows, so I really don’t think people would’ve cared if they rebooted Iron Fist entirely. They could’ve even recast Danny as Asian American. That alone would’ve fixed one of the biggest criticisms of the character.
The whole trope of a white dude going to a mystical Asian land and becoming the best has been beaten into the ground at this point. Looking at you Dr Strange and Batman. Reimagining Danny or passing the mantle would’ve been way more interesting.
They also could’ve focused on Danny training a new Iron Fist like Lin Lie. Shang-Chi could’ve even existed inside an Iron Fist movie instead of being his own thing.
And imagine Iron Fist with actual big screen martial arts choreography handled by veteran Hong Kong fight coordinators. That’s literally what the character is built for.
Iron Fist also fits way more naturally into the MCU. He can show up in Daredevil, Spider-Man, or any other street level New York story. He has a more iconic look and honestly would sell to the masses better. Unless Marvel has plans of bringing Agents of Atlas to the MCU, I don't quite know where Shang Chi fits outside of basically filling Iron Fist’s role. Having both characters around just feels redundant.
**TLDR:** Shang-Chi was good but had no long-term plan. Iron Fist is more recognizable, fits the MCU better, and Shang-Chi feels like Marvel accidentally reinvented Iron Fist without knowing what to do afterward.
Commentaires
2. Shang-Chi was a success film so it’s already a win. There was finally much needed Asian representation leading an MCU film, it’s not guaranteed Iron Fist would have been equally successful in its place (even if the character is more well known)
3. Both characters can have roles moving forward in the MCU still
Comic book enthusiasts make up a fraction of a percentage of live action connoisseurs. Iron Fist is on the Green Lantern level of “I’ve tried it before, no thanks”. He does not have the star power of F4 or X-Men to continually get rebooted after bad attempts. And Shag Chi isn’t nearly as obscure as you’re making it seem. Everyone who knows, knows him. And everyone who doesn’t, doesn’t know IF either.
Also, I disagree greatly that Shang Chi doesn’t fit in those situations or no potential plan. He can walk both worlds, mystic or street level as good or better than IF.
It’s unfortunate what happened to IF, but maybe decades from now when it’s forgotten they’ll try again; not unlike Daredevil.
It’s only recently that stuff like Marvel Rivals has helped put some interest back in the character.
Cool stunts, good choreo, and personal stakes, not world ending.
It doesn't matter if he was a better fit. It doesn't matter if you think he is more famous or not. What matters is the pieces of paper that say when you can and when you can't do something. Iron Fist feel into that void till Sep 2020 I believe. So it wouldn't have been till then when the story process would have started. Shang-Chi would have already wrapped and been in theaters before you even started filming Iron Fist.
You say that Marvel doesn't know what to do with Shang Chi as he hasn't really been brought up anywhere else which is fair enough, but how would it have been any different if he was Iron Fist?
Would the name alone suddenly give the writers more ideas on where to go next?
No, I don't think it's that simple. Whathever's going onin the writers room runs deeper than "oops used the wrong martial arts character"
How about they just do *Shang-Chi 2* with a rebooted Iron Fist?
They have co-existed for decades in the comics, one isn't inherently better than the other. And Shang-Chi's movie did great for a character that is unknown to GA, so I don't understand your idea.
-OP, for some reason