‘Aquaman’ Star Ludi Lin Wants To Play Shang-Chi For Marvel

Earlier this month, it was announced that Marvel Studios was developing a film centered on the character Shang-Chi. The film will be the first Asian-led superhero film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the studio hopes to make the film a monumental success for Asian representation in superhero films the same way Black Panther turned out for black representation. While there is no official director attached as well as no actor in the lead role yet either, you can add Aquaman star Ludi Lin as someone who would love to bring Shang-Chi to life.

During an interview in promotion of Aquaman, Lin was asked about the prospects of bringing Shang-Chi to life as the first prominent Asian superhero film in Heroic Age of Hollywood. Lin revealed that he sees this as something that means a lot to himself as an Asian actor:

“It’s definitely something I want to do. To do an Asian-centric superhero. To tell that story. I mean ideally, I’d like to design my own superhero, make my own creation. But I think the Marvel world is pretty incredible as well. Especially in honor of Stan Lee, the person who created this entire, I mean like an entire universe. You know what I mean? It’s pretty incredible. And I think it would be great because it would take another big step towards representation.”

To both Marvel Studios and DC Films’ credit, their respective film slate continues to diversify in their cast and crew. Obviously, Black Panther and Wonder Woman are perhaps the most significant developments in bringing more representation, but upcoming films such as Captain Marvel and Birds of Prey are just a few examples of more exciting opportunities to tell more diverse stories.

In regards to Asian representation in Hollywood films, 2018 marked the release of Jon M. Chu’s, Crazy Rich Asians, which was the first all-Asian cast in a Hollywood film since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club. The romantic comedy based on the book by Kevin Kwan received critical acclaim and was a box office hit. Hopefully, Marvel will dedicate the same amount of dedication to Shang-Chi as they did for Black Panther. And if done sooner, we can even get to see Black Panther and Shang-Chi work together.

Would you like to see Ludi Lin as Shang-Chi? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news about Marvel’s upcoming Shang-Chi movie.

Ludi Lin plays Captain Murk in Aquaman. Here is the synopsis for that film:

From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be… a king.

Directed by James Wan, Aquaman stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, Amber Heard as Mera, Willem Dafoe as Vulko, Patrick Wilson as Orm / Ocean Master, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Ludi Lin as Captain Murk, and Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry.

Aquaman will be released in theaters on December 21, 2018.

Source: Screen Rant