There has been ongoing concern about whether any more films from Marvel Studios will release in China. Black Widow, while it was initially reported to release in China, never managed to open in the country due to "the critical 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party’s founding on July 1."
Despite months after this anniversary, Black Widow still never managed to see a release, despite not having any controversies attached to it unlike Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Eternals was put into question due to comments from director Chloé Zhao resurfacing where she described China as “a place where there are lies everywhere.” Recently, an old interview with Shang-Chi star Simu Liu also came back to the forefront, where he talked about his parents living under the country's Communist regime.
However, it seems like none of this has dampened Liu's attitude, while still being supportive of Chinese fans who won't get to see the film in theaters.
Fans Across The World Supporting Shang-Chi
On his Instagram, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, seemingly in reaction to media outlets reporting on his old comments about China, spoke about the "groundswell of support" the film has had around the world, including China:
"WHAT WESTERN NEWS OFTEN FAILS TO REPORT ON IS THE ABSOLUTE GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD - INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM CHINA!
ALL AROUND US, MEDIA NARRATIVES ARE POLARIZING US AND TURNING US AGAINST EACH OTHER. BUT I HAVE SEEN THE KINDNESS AND THE EMPATHY THAT ALL PEOPLE POSSESS. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH OUR MOVIE AND MAKE HISTORY WITH US!
WHETHER YOU SEEK POSITIVITY OR TOXICITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA... YOU WILL FIND IT.
THANKS TO ALL MARVEL FANS IN CHINA AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD! WE LOVE YOU!!"
He ends this message by addressing Chinese fans in their native language, which translates to, "Thank you to all Marvel fans in China!"
Simu Liu Not Backing Down
It's nice to see Liu not backing down or taking back his previous comments about his parents' experience in China to give Shang-Chi a better chance to release in the country. Simultaneously, it's great to see the actor still being supportive of his fans in China, despite them being unable to see his film in theaters.
As for Liu's comments about the "media narratives...polarizing us and turning us against each other," it could be about the framing of his comments by the media. Some outlets have interpreted that his comments have upset Chinese citizens, specifically when it seems only to be the Chinese government reacting to them.
Looking at Chinese social media like Bilibili and Douban shows that there doesn't seem to be an enormous outcry about Liu's comments like the media framed it to be. So fans in China will eventually get to see Shang-Chi, although it may need to be through an alternative method once it hits Disney+ after the 45-day window in theaters ends.
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