Shang-Chi 2's Delay Is Going To Become Worse When An Inevitable Change Happens

The long wait for Shang-Chi 2 has been tough, and Marvel Studios' decision to keep delaying the sequel is inevitably going to look a lot worse. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was a clear franchise starter when it hit theaters in 2021. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Simu Liu, the martial arts fantasy film clicked with audiences in a big way, grossing over $400 million and earning the MCU's best audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, 98%.

With Shang-Chi's ending welcoming the hero into the larger world of superheroes by interacting with Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner, and Wong and teasing big connections to the mystical Ten Rings, viewers were promised additional stories. Marvel even officially confirmed a sequel was in development by the end of 2021, with Cretton returning to write and direct.

The problem is that the film still hasn't come out. Liu is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, but Phases 5 and 6 will come and go without Shang-Chi 2. Making matters worse, the sequel has never received a firm release date from Marvel Studios, suggesting that it has not been a true priority for Kevin Feige and the powers that be. Pandemics, strikes, and shifting MCU plans have all caused delays for Shang-Chi 2.

Through it all, one reason to be patient for Shang-Chi 2 was knowing that it would keep the core creatives around, namely Cretton. But based on how these last five years have gone and what the next few years look like, it feels inevitable that Marvel Studios will eventually announce that Cretton won't direct Shang-Chi 2, making the wait much worse in retrospect.

The Odds Of Destin Daniel Cretton Directing Shang-Chi 2 Keep Getting Worse

While Cretton made several great films before Shang-Chi, the blockbuster's commercial and critical success awarded him more opportunities. This included Marvel and Sony tapping him for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, after he exited Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. His second MCU movie has become another stepping stone for his career, which is troubling for Shang-Chi 2.

Even though he's still technically attached to the sequel, it is hardly the only project he's developing. He's currently prepping to make a live-action Naruto. The success of Brand New Day brought him a deal to helm a Hawaii 5-O feature. Sony is also keen on getting him back to direct Spider-Man 5.

Cretton has said all of the right things regarding Shang-Chi 2, including telling ScreenRant that he's actively developing the sequel. However, his actions suggest his priorities are elsewhere. It's impossible for him to direct Naruto, Hawaii 5-O, Spider-Man 5, and Shang-Chi 2 in the next few years and please all the studios involved. Of those, sadly, Shang-Chi 2 feels like the one that he'd have to take off his plate.

Shang-Chi 2 Was Only Worth Delaying All These Years To Wait For Destin Daniel Cretton

Cretton was a big reason why Shang-Chi was so great. He's proven it was no fluke with Wonder Man and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It made sense for Marvel to keep delaying Shang-Chi 2 if it meant keeping him aboard. He should be the one helming the next installment and guiding Shang-Chi's story forward. But with his exit seeming inevitable, the delays become more disheartening.

Marvel and Cretton could have realized how difficult it would be for him to direct Shang-Chi 2 promptly years ago. If they had made the decision to have Cretton remain aboard as a producer and/or writer, but let someone else step in to direct, we could've gotten Shang-Chi 2 by now.

Instead, we've been left waiting with uncertainty and the promise that Cretton would be back. If he winds up needing to step away from directing Shang-Chi 2, the way Marvel has handled this new franchise will look worse.

I hope this proves to be wrong and Cretton not only directs the sequel but does so as his first feature after Naruto. But if he returns to the MCU following the manga adaptation, Spider-Man 5 is positioned as the priority.