Simu Liu reveals stance against racism shortly before getting ‘Shang-Chi’ role

July 7, 2021

Simu Liu did something admirable hours before he learned he would become the martial arts superhero Shang-Chi.

Real-life superhero: Liu told Entertainment Weekly that he recalled when he fought against having to say a racist line on the “Kim’s Convenience” set on the same day Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told him he got the role.

Liu said that when he refused to say a play on words on his character’s name, “Egg Foo Jung,” production halted for almost an hour.
The Asian Canadian star remembered it as “a really rough day” as he was “on the verge of tears” after getting into an argument over the script.
Liu later shared that when he was back at his apartment, eating shrimp crackers in his underwear, he got a call from Feige, Director Destin Daniel Cretton and Casting Director Sarah Finn.
The actor, who has been urging Marvel to cast an Asian American hero since 2014, was tapped to be the first Asian leading superhero in the hugely popular Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

Role of a lifetime: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” was announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, with Liu joining some of the other stars of the MCU’s Phase 4 films, NextShark previously reported.

In the same interview with EW, Liu called the experience “insane” as he found himself on stage “with some of the most famous people in the world, wearing my $20 Zara sweater and skinny jeans.”
Liu, who grew up watching Jet Li and Jackie Chan, feels “Shang-Chi” can instill the same pride he felt then as a kid to younger viewers of today.
“Shang-Chi can absolutely be that for Asian Americans,” he noted. “It means that kids growing up today will have what we never did — the ability to watch the screen and to really feel seen.”

Featured Image via Marvel Entertainment

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