Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is poised to take the world by storm as it opens in cinemas worldwide this September, but filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton initially had reservations about working on a Marvel project.
At a press conference attended by CBR, Cretton admitted he privately told his agent that he didn’t want to work on any Marvel projects weeks before Shang-Chi began officially searching for a director. Then, when pitching Shang-Chi to Marvel Studios executives, Cretton shared this stance but revealed his personal connection to the character led him to reconsider and take on the project.
“I really personally connect with Shang-Chi’s journey. I love that this is a superhero that doesn’t get splashed with chemicals to get his superpower,” Cretton shared. “That it is a journey of self-discovery, of growing up and learning how to finally deal with pain that he’s been running away from his entire life and that, when he is finally able to look inside into his past and embrace the good, bad, the joy, the pain and accept it all as part of himself, that when he finally steps into his big boy shoes, I think that’s what we’re all doing as humans in some way or another.”
Prior to directing and co-writing Shang-Chi, Cretton helmed several smaller, independent films, including some with Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Brie Larson and Michael B. Jordan. Cretton is also friends with fellow MCU filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who is currently helming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a direct sequel to his previous Black Panther.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay he co-wrote with David Callaham, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings opens in theaters Sept. 3.
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