In recent years, Marvel has been opening its screens to more diverse characters. When Simu Liu was cast as the lead in the hit movie, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, it was a huge step forward for on-screen racial diversity. This movie had the much needed Asian representation in this blockbuster franchise, and Liu was the main hero. After Shang-Chi hit theaters, Liu’s popularity grew exponentially, and he became known worldwide.

     Liu was born in Harbin, China and immigrated to Canada at five years old. He attended school at the Richard Ivey School of Business, but after graduating he decided to pursue a career in acting. He soon landed many roles in movies such as Heroes Reborn (2015), Kim’s Convenience (2016), Blood and Water (2015) and Taken (2017). These many different roles widened his horizons as an actor. What is the one big factor that pretty much landed him the role of Shang-Chi?

     Liu talks about this tweet and how actually receiving the part changed his life. In a press conference, he said, “It was Kevin Feige, and he offered me the role…He flew me down and my life really was never the same after that.”

     Liu has also faced many challenges prior to becoming a rising Marvel star. One of the biggest ones is the fact that there was little to no representation for him in the media. He once did an interview with Time Magazine speaking about Shang-Chi.

    “I loved comics as a kid, I loved superheroes, but I really didn’t see myself represented in that space”, Liu discussed.

     “As time went on I felt the need to really take up space, to show people it was OK to be proud of where you came from and to be open about it”, he commented later in the interview.

     Overall, Simu Liu came from many hardships, but grew into one of the most famous and well-liked superheroes. 

     Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has changed his life for the better, and there’s always looking forward to seeing him more often in future blockbuster films.