Marvel director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," is set to direct and write an adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s beloved shonen, "Naruto," with Lionsgate. The project, in the works since 2015, was confirmed last November. Cretton will also produce the film through his production company Hisako. The franchise, popular for its anime and video game offshoots, follows the journey of a young ninja with a demonic fox sealed inside his body as he aims to become the village leader.
Actor Simu Liu, known for his roles in "Barbie" and "Shang-Chi," will host the 2024 People's Choice Awards, which will be broadcast live on NBC, Peacock, and E! on Feb. 18. Liu, a previous People's Choice Award winner, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and emphasized the importance of celebrating with fans. Voting for the awards is open until Jan. 19, with major contenders including "Oppenheimer," "Barbie" star Margot Robbie, and "The Bear."
Director Destin Daniel Cretton has dropped out of directing "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty," but remains attached to direct the sequel to "Shang-Chi" and is working on the Disney+ series "Wonder Man." Cretton's exit is amicable, and he is reportedly in talks to direct future Marvel movies. The movie, currently scheduled for release in 2026, is now without a director. Additionally, it is unclear if Jonathan Majors, who plays the villain Kang, will continue his role in the MCU due to pending assault and harassment charges.
Simu Liu confirms that a sequel to Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" is still in the works but keeps getting delayed due to circumstances beyond his control. The delays may be attributed to the WGA strike and the accusations against Jonathan Majors, who played versions of Kang in other Marvel projects. Liu hints that Shang-Chi may appear in another Marvel production soon.
The release of Shang-Chi 2, the sequel to the hit Marvel film, has been delayed due to the ongoing delays of the Avengers movie it was meant to follow. This highlights the shaky state of Marvel's Phase Four plans, with several films facing delays and uncertainties. The COVID-19 pandemic and other real-world circumstances have contributed to the messy handling of events, and the studio is also dealing with VFX crunch, abuse allegations, and the ongoing WGA Strike. While Marvel and Disney will likely recover, these setbacks demonstrate the need for a more cautious approach to future releases.
Simu Liu, star of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," provided an update on the highly-anticipated sequel, revealing that it was originally planned to follow "Avengers" but has been delayed due to circumstances beyond his control. Disney's recent release calendar changes, including pushing back "Avengers: Secret Wars" and "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty," may be contributing factors. Other Marvel projects, such as "Thunderbolts" and "Blade," have also been delayed due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Liu expressed hope for more concrete news soon.
Shang-Chi star Simu Liu has revealed that the sequel to "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" won't be heading to the big screen anytime soon, as it was originally planned to follow the next big Avengers movie. However, due to circumstances beyond his control, the release of the Avengers film has been pushed back, leaving the fate of the Shang-Chi sequel uncertain. The situation is further complicated by allegations of abuse and toxic behavior from the star of the Avengers film, Jonathan Majors. Despite these challenges, Liu expressed excitement about exploring new aspects of his character in the sequel.
