MARVEL STUDIOS MOVIE SHANG-CHI HIRES A DIRECTOR

Marvel Studios has signed on filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton to direct their upcoming film Shang-Chi.

In the comic books, Shang-Chi is born in China to a Chinese father and white American mother. His father, the villainous Fu Manchu, teaches him martial arts. and Shang-Chi becomes a hero after rebelling against his father’s ways.

Although no casting news have been announced, Marvel Studios has mentioned that Shang-Chi will be their first project featuring an Asian lead and mostly Asian and Asian American cast. Shang-Chi will be penned by Chinese American Dave Callaham whose recent works include co-writing with Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns in the upcoming DC Warner Bros sequel, Wonder Woman 1984 and Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2.

Cretton, who was born and raised in Hawaii, is currently directing Just Mercy, a film he wrote, based on the memoir of Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan and reunites him with actress Brie Laron who starred in his film, Short Term 12.

MARVEL COMICS INTRODUCES A FILIPINA HEROINE IN "THE WAR OF THE REALMS"

Marvel Comics’ upcoming comic book, The War of the Realms will introduce a new team of heroes including “Wave” a Filipina heroine, Aero and Sword Master from China who will be part of the Agents of Atlas. The War of the Realms universe will be set in Asia where the Agents of Atlas will be tasked to save the world.

According to Marvel editor Will Moss, “War of the Realms is this big, big Marvel universe story involving all the heroes from the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Wolverine, the whole line.”

The comic books are set to be debut in May 2019.