New update finally explains why Shang-Chi 2 is still delayed
Shang-Chi 2 has been stuck in limbo for years — now director Destin Daniel Cretton is finally spelling out why. On a recent podcast, he broke down the holdup that’s kept Marvel’s sequel on ice and when fans might realistically expect movement.
Bit of a mystery, this one. Ever since Marvel put out Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings back in 2021, there has been one question bouncing around MCU circles: where on earth is the sequel? Well, the director himself, Destin Daniel Cretton, has finally decided to clear the air and explain just what has been holding Shang-Chi 2 up for so long. The answer's not exactly ground-breaking, but at least it puts some of those wilder internet rumours to bed.
So, What's the Hold-Up?
Cretton spilled the beans on Deadline's Crew Call podcast. He was joined by Andrew Guest (the guy behind that Wonder Man series that's apparently still a thing). First of all, Marvel aren't quietly cancelling the sequel—it's genuinely still in development. Cretton made that clear up front.
Right, here's where it gets a bit dry but crucial for MCU obsessives. Cretton pointed directly at the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos it caused, both for his film and the industry at large. When the first Shang-Chi came out in 2021, cinemas worldwide were basically stumbling back to their feet. Even though it performed well in the US, the film’s international run was kneecapped by cinema closures—or in Cretton’s own words:
'Many countries were completely shut down to theatres at the time.'
In plain English: the original didn’t get quite the victory lap Marvel were hoping for. That box office uncertainty made it tough to build proper momentum for an immediate sequel.
The Domino Effect
It’s not just about box office numbers, though. After COVID, the entire film industry went into a kind of freefall. According to Cretton, Marvel (and the rest of Hollywood) have been basically recalibrating ever since. New production timelines, shifting priorities—the works. That’s the real reason why Shang-Chi 2 vanished off the release calendar.
How Big Was the First?
- Worldwide box office: $432.2 million
- Biggest Labor Day weekend opening in US history: $94.6 million
- Sequel felt like a safe bet at the time—then the industry changed overnight
Where’s the Cast?
Since then, Simu Liu (who plays Shang-Chi himself) hasn’t popped up in any other MCU project. If you’re missing him, don’t panic—he’s next down for Avengers: Doomsday from the Russo Brothers.
What's Next for the Director?
Cretton isn’t just sitting around waiting for Marvel to give him the green light. He’s moved over to Sony/Marvel’s upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, due out on 31 July. The man’s keeping busy, even if Shang-Chi fans are left hanging for a while longer.