Shang-Chi star Simu Liu hits back at Disney’s CEO for calling new Marvel movie ‘an experiment’ – why the Canadian actor is not afraid to stand up for Asian representation in Hollywood
- On Twitter, Liu criticised comments from Disney’s CEO about the upcoming film, and expressed his frustrations with Netflix’s Kim’s Convenience on Facebook
- Disney put some cinema releases straight onto its streaming service amid Covid-19, like Jungle Cruise and Black Widow – a move Scarlett Johansson is challenging in court
Actor Simu Liu is defending his upcoming Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings following a comment made by Disney CEO Bob Chapek suggesting the film’s release will be an “experiment” for the company.
Chapek, speaking to investors in a quarterly earnings call last week, noted that amid the pandemic, Disney has made some of its films available in theatres, some straight to Disney+ and some a hybrid of the two, available on the streaming service for an additional cost (such as Marvel’s Black Widow and Jungle Cruise).
“On Shang-Chi, we think it’s actually going to be an interesting experiment for us because it’s got only a 45-day window,” Chapek said. “So the prospect of being able to take a Marvel title to the service after going theatrical for 45 days will be yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles.”
Liu wasn’t thrilled with Chapek’s characterisation and tweeted, “We are not an experiment.”
“We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers,” the actor wrote in response on Saturday, August 14. “We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise. I’m fired the f*** up to make history on September 3; join us.”
Shang-Chi will be released in theatres on September 3 and arrive on Disney+ as soon as October 18.
During the call with investors, Chapek was asked why Disney’s latest releases, Ryan Reynolds’ Free Guy and Shang-Chi, were being released first in theatres amid American film-goers’ renewed hesitancy to head to theatres, given the Covid-19 delta variant. He noted that the latter film was intended to be released into a “much more healthy theatrical environment” but the studio was unable to make a last-minute change to a simultaneous release.