Marvel Green-Lights First Asian-Led Superhero Movie, "Shang-Chi"

Marvel will buck the staid trend of white male superheroes with Shang-Chi.

After the immense success of Black Panther and Wonder Woman, fans argued there was an obvious demand for superhero movies that weren't dominated by white males (see: the majority of Western superhero movies ever made).

Now, Deadline is reporting that Marvel is planning a film for the franchise's first-ever Asian superhero, Shang-Chi, with Godzilla and Wonder Woman 1984 writer, David Callaham, crafting the story.

Shang-Chi was first introduced into the Marvel Comics universe in 1973 and is a master of Kung Fu. After growing up with little contact to the outside world, he soon realises that his father, later called The Devil's Doctor, might not be the great guy Shang-Chi thought he was after all.

Callaham, an American scriptwriter of Chinese descent, will be tasked with fusing the Chinese superhero with Asian-American influences, similar to how Black Panther (while mostly set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda) incorporated an African-American storyline.

And it's not the only Marvel movies in the works to buck the staid trend of white male superheroes.

Stand-alone films for the female superheroes Black Widow and Captain Marvel, are in the pipeline, with the latter being released early next year.

Rare footage of Wonder Woman wiping out all the nay-sayers.

The future of superhero films is looking bright.

Header Image: Marvel