Marvel’s first ever film to be headlined by an Asian, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is out in theatres. Though it’s a bummer, the film is not going to be streamed on Disney Plus anytime soon. While it was highly anticipated, the outbreak of the Delta variant has people hesitant and nervous about heading to theatres. Here’s everything about the film and how you can watch it. 

Who is Shang-Chi?

Shang-Chi first appeared in comics in 1973. Although born a supervillain Fu Manchu, he later decided not to follow in the footsteps of his father and opposed his way. A master of unarmed combat, he joined Avengers in 2013. 

Not your regular superhero with traditional superpowers, he had the knack for mastering forms of combat. He did gain the power to replicate himself later though. 

Also Read | South Korean actor Park Seo Joon officially joins cast of ‘The Marvels’

The film features Chinese-American actor Simu Liu as Shang-chi and Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Wenwu/The Mandarin, Shang-Chi’s father. It is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, while David Callaham is the screenwriter. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings release on Friday, September 3 and is running in theatres currently. The film will continue exclusively for 45 days. It is expected to hit Disney Plus in mid-October for streaming. 

Reviews and reactions

“Shang-Chi comes with Marvel strengths and weaknesses while also feeling like something winningly new,” said CNET film critic Richard Trenholm

He added that the film is “visually and narratively distinct from the rest of the franchise. Shang-Chi is Marvel’s first Asian lead, and the style of the film draws on the rich history of Asian cinema, from martial arts movies to gangster films to romance, and in particular the lush visual and emotional style of wuxia epics.”

CNET’s Joan E. Solsman reviewed the film positively and said “Built on a framework telling the story of one family’s reckoning with grief, it layers on action and humour while playfully blending genres, for the best kind of summer popcorn flick.”