Marvel's Shang-Chi announces casting criteria for male lead: must be of Chinese descent

Marvel recently announced the casting criteria for the first Chinese-American superhero blockbuster Shang-Chi. It is reported that Marvel has provided audition opportunities to many people, requiring that the person must be of Chinese descent, not other Asian countries, and must know martial arts and be between 20 and 29 years old.

The character Shang-Chi first appeared in the comics created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin in December 1973. In the comics, Shang-Chi is the son of the Chinese villain Fu Manchu, born in Hunan, and his mother is white. He has been trained in a remote place since he was a child. He is proficient in long sticks, nunchakus and swordsmanship, and has also joined the Avengers. When he went out to perform a task assigned by his father, Shang-Chi discovered that his father was not the "humanitarian" he claimed to be, and finally Shang-Chi chose to betray his father.

However, the film version will reportedly be a contemporary adaptation of his story, removing some of the stereotypes about Asians set in the comics.

Earlier, there were reports that Ludi Lin (Aquaman) and Ross Butler (Shazam!) would compete to play the leading role of the film, the Chinese superhero Shang-Chi. The media said Marvel was interested in asking Donnie Yen to play an unidentified character, speculating that it might be a "wise, elderly politician."

The director of "Shang-Chi" has already been confirmed: Destin Clayton ("Shelter"), and the film has also found Chinese-American screenwriter Dave Callahan ("Godzilla", "Wonder Woman 1984").