Shang-Chi star Simu Liu landed a dry shade over Marvel Studios and Disney's decision to omit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in Disney+'s suggested watchlist for Avengers: Doomsday. It is standard practice for Marvel Studios to curate recommended viewing lists that highlight key Multiverse Saga titles ahead of major releases, helping audiences catch up without rewatching the entire MCU. The same approach is being used for Avengers: Doomsday, with a promotional page on Disney+ featuring a selection of "suggested" titles under the film's banner.
In a post from Threads, the suggested watchlist for Avengers: Doomsday was highlighted, and visible on that list are the likes of Avengers: Endgame (which directly connects to Avengers: Doomsday), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts*, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Thor: Love and Thunder, X-Men, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Notably absent, however, are both Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Deadpool & Wolverine, an omission that quickly drew attention online. This prompted Simu Liu to reply with a single word, saying, "typical."
It's worth noting that this list seems to vary across Disney+ users or regions, so it may not be a specifically curated list. Despite that, the omission is noteworthy.
The Marvel actor's understated reaction fits a clear pattern. Liu has previously answered similar comments on Threads about the studio underutilizing Shang-Chi with the same dry skepticism, including an honest reply to a fan earlier this month in which he said he simply wanted "[Shang-Chi's] existence to be acknowledged."
Whether the watchlist omission was a deliberate choice from Marvel Studios or Disney or a simple oversight, Liu's one-word reply turned a minor promotional detail into a brief but widely noted moment of quiet commentary on Shang-Chi's place in the larger MCU machine.
Despite Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' strong box-office performance and widespread critical acclaim, Shang-Chi has remained largely sidelined in live-action MCU storytelling until his confirmed appearance in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday. Shang-Chi did appear, however, in Marvel Zombies in a prominent role, but it was in the animated space.
Why Simu Liu's Avengers: Doomsday's Return as Shang-Chi Is His Reckoning
Simu Liu's long-awaited Shang-Chi return in Avengers: Doomsday marks a pivotal MCU reckoning for both the actor and the Ten Rings hero after years of limited screen time in the Multiverse Saga.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings clearly established Simu Liu as a breakout Marvel Studios lead capable of carrying martial-arts spectacle, emotional family drama, and large-scale superhero action. However, the MCU hero's long absence left many fans to question Marvel's long-term commitment to expanding the Shang-Chi mythology.
Shang-Chi's MCU comeback in the fight against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom positions him alongside the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. This elevated platform offers Liu a golden opportunity to redefine Shang-Chi's power scaling and narrative importance on the biggest stage the MCU can offer.
In a way, Shang-Chi's Doomsday appearance also functions as a strategic course-correction moment for Marvel Studios. After years of disrespect and Liu's vocal resentment of being sidelined, reintroducing Shang-Chi into the franchise's most ambitious ensemble is the right move, allowing newcomers to learn more about him and transform them into avid fans looking forward to his next MCU appearance.
If anything, Simu Liu is now given the opportunity to convert years of quiet momentum into a high-stakes on-screen presence that finally matches the cultural impact of the original Ten Rings story.
