Simu Liu: Marvel Keeps Secrets Due to Holland, Ruffalo

It's official: Shang-Chi is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The much-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday livestream confirmed that Simu Liu will once again grace the screen as Shang-Chi in the upcoming ensemble film. However, due to Marvel Studios' notorious secrecy regarding potential spoilers, Liu remained tight-lipped about his involvement, only hinting at his participation when his name appeared alongside other MCU legends on a chair during the reveal.

Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement was dominated by veteran actors from the X-Men franchise. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all confirmed to appear, signaling a significant presence of the X-Men in the film. Grammer, who portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men films, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X, briefly appeared in the MCU in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. McKellen, famous for playing Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU, as have Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops). This raises the intriguing question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

During a recent appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, Liu shared his excitement about being part of the film, albeit without knowing the full scope of the cast. "I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity," he said. "But I didn't know who else they were announcing. They don't tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don't tell us." Liu's comments refer to the well-known leaks from Holland about the MCU’s Spider-Man series and Ruffalo's tendency to reveal plot points. Since these incidents, Marvel has tightened its grip on spoilers, keeping even the actors in the dark.

Liu, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, was taken aback by some of the names announced to join him in Avengers: Doomsday. "I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced," he remarked during the interview. "These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit."

Liu first portrayed Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, but fans have been eagerly awaiting his return. With a release date set for May 1, 2026, and a plethora of new names attached to the project, Avengers: Doomsday remains shrouded in mystery. However, more details are expected to emerge within the next year, regardless of Marvel's efforts to keep things under wraps.

Meanwhile, MCU enthusiasts have also been buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.'s recent Doctor Doom-themed birthday party invitation, sparking speculation about his potential involvement in future MCU projects.