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The second official film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s sprawling fourth phase, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings enjoyed immense success and popularity since its release back in September 2021. The entry itself introduces Marvel fans to Simu Liu’s titular Shang-Chi, the first Asian superhero to grace the silver screen, and a skilled martial arts fighter to boot.
The story follows both Shang-Chi as he’s forced to confront his past, and his father, Wenwu (Tony Leung) as the MCU’s “real” Mandarin and leader of the Ten Rings terrorist organization. However, while the film mainly focuses on the strained relationship between Shang-Chi and his father, there are several moments that tease what the MCU has in store for the martial artist next.
10 Shang-Chi And Katy Unofficially Join The Avengers
The film’s first post-credits scene finds Shang-Chi and his best friend Katy (Awkwafina) trying to recount the wild events of the film to their two disbelieving friends. While in the restaurant, they are suddenly interrupted by the sorcerer Wong (Benedict Wong), who requests that the two characters follow him into a portal on urgent business.
After meeting with the likes of Carol Danvers and Bruce Banner (virtually), both Shang-Chi and Katy are unofficially inducted into the Avengers – much to their surprise and confusion. The informal welcome, however, doesn’t come without warning: whether they’re in San Francisco like or not, they’re part of a larger universe now.
9 The Ten Rings Emit An Interdimensional Signal
The reason Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to the Sanctum Sanctorum is because the Ten Rings Shang-Chi inherited from his father are emitting a strange signal – one that’s unfamiliar to both Danvers and Banner. This confirms that the artifacts are both incredibly old and likely not part of this universe.
This revelation draws a subtle connection to the multiverse, which is a concept Marvel Studios has been heavily leaning on of late – particularly with shows like Loki and movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home. Should the sequel choose to stay faithful to Shang-Chi’s comic origins, then fans might get to see the mythical Makluans come for the powerful rings they created.
8 Sylvie Kills He Who Remains In The Loki Finale
Given how the Ten Rings are effectively an alien beacon to the current universe, fans have postulated that the artifacts either come from the pocket dimension of Ta Lo or somewhere else in the multiverse. This suggests there are several otherworldly dimensions the Rings’ creators might hail from.
One possibility about how these unknown entities might traverse the multiverse is through the actions of Sylvie, who killed He Who Remains at the end of season one of Loki. This effectively breaks the Sacred Timeline and splinters it into a myriad of branching timelines, making it possible that the Rings’ creators come from one of these alternate realities.
7 Spider-Man Messes With Doctor Strange’s Spell
The MCU’s Phase Four is breaking open the multiverse in a multitude of ways. And Spider-Man and Doctor Strange join in on the chaos in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Discontent with Mysterio outing his identity, Peter Parker seeks the help of the Sorcerer Supreme to undo the supervillain’s actions from Spider-Man: Far From Home.
However, Parker messes up Strange’s complex spell and inadvertently brings the villains from past Spider-Man universes into the main MCU. Given the tears in reality that begin to appear around the Statue of Liberty, this cataclysmic event could be a path the creators of the Ten Rings take to find Shang-Chi and their artifacts.
6 Dweller-in-Darkness Is A Fear Lord In The Comics
The main antagonist in 2021’s Shang-Chi, the Dweller-in-Darkness is a Soul Eater capable of consuming entire worlds and realities, which makes it extraordinarily dangerous. However, the monstrosity’s comic book origins reveal that it’s also a “Fear Lord” – a demon much like the well-known Doctor Strange villain, Nightmare.
Granted, while the Dweller-in-Darkness was significantly changed for its MCU adaptation, its connection to Doctor Strange shouldn’t be overlooked – especially since Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to the Sorcerer Supreme’s magical residence at the end of Shang-Chi. Could it be that a different Fear Lord is coming after the Ten Rings in the sequel?
5 The Great Protector Dragon Is The Celestial Of Ta Lo
After Shang-Chi and his company arrive in Ta Lo ahead of Wenwu and the Ten Rings, his aunt Jiang Nan (Michelle Yeoh) reveals the truth behind the Dweller-in-Darkness. It’s also revealed that the people of Ta Lo managed to repel the Soul Eaters with assistance from the Great Protector Dragon, which could be the MCU’s Fin Fang Foom.
However, there’s conjecture that the Great Protector could be a Celestial. Introduced with 2021’s Eternals, fans know that beings of immense power are responsible for the creation of most life across the universe. Given the Great Protector’s mysterious powers, it’d make sense if the she-dragon was responsible for the creation of the Ta Lo fans see in Shang-Chi.
4 Jiang Nan Mentions Ta Lo’s Sprawling Cityscapes
Regardless of what happens in the Shang-Chi sequel, it’s likely that the martial artist and his friends will return to the magical world of Ta Lo at some point. While explaining the history of Ta Lo to Shang-Chi, Jiang Nan mentions that Ta Lo has sprawling cities beyond the small village they’re currently living in.
Though Yeoh’s comment might be nothing more than a throwaway line, it opens up the possibility of a sequel in the same way Ryan Coogler’s Wakanda series on Disney+ is set to expand on the incredible world fans got a glimpse of in 2018’s Black Panther.
3 Xialing Becomes The New Leader Of The Ten Rings
The second post-credits scene fans were privy to at the end of the 2021 film was the reveal that Shang-Chi’s sister, Xialing didn’t disband the Ten Rings terrorist organization like her brother thought she did. Instead, she effectively takes up her father’s mantle and becomes the new leader of the sinister group.
After the film’s debut, Marvel’s head honcho Kevin Feige explained that the reason for the scene’s inclusion was to let fans know the Ten Rings were alive and well in the MCU. Furthermore, plans for the Ten Rings to get their own spin-off Disney+ series was also revealed, which will likely see the return of many Shang-Chi characters.
2 Shang-Chi Fights Xialing At Golden Daggers Club
Taken at face value, it doesn’t seem like the fight between Shang-Chi and his sister at her club in Macau will have any impact in the Shang-Chi sequel. However, given that Xialing is the new leader of the Ten Rings, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Shang-Chi found himself at odds with his sister once more.
Xialing’s actions shouldn’t be a surprise to the future Avenger though – she clearly stated her aspirations to lead a crime syndicate after the siblings were reunited. Should Shang-Chi come to blows with his sister in the sequel, could he really emerge victorious? If their fight at the Golden Daggers Club is any indicator, Shang-Chi’s in real trouble.
1 Wenwu Is Responsible For Tony Stark’s Kidnapping
As Shang-Chi becomes more involved with the Avengers, he’ll likely find himself at odds with Xialing’s Ten Rings, especially given the tumultuous history they had with Tony Stark. And while Iron Man is no longer alive in the present day of the MCU, his legacy as one of the team’s leaders is not forgotten.
What makes this more concerning for Shang-Chi is Wenwu’s reveal that he pulled the trigger on Stark’s original kidnapping (in the 2008 movie that kicked off the MCU). And given the bad blood between the Mandarin and Iron Man, it’d make sense for that rivalry to bleed over into the current phase of the MCU.
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