Photo: Jasin Boland/Marvel Studios; Jay Maidment/Marvel Studios
The reign ofShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringscontinues!
The Marvel film is set to hit a major milestone and will become the highest-grossing film to date to be released amid the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic, according to a report fromDeadline.
Shang-Chiwas released solely in movie theaters, which differed fromBlack Widow’s rollout. The Scarlett Johansson film was previously released in theaters and made available to stream for a price to Disney+ subscribers. (Shang-Chiwill beavailable for Disney+ subscribers to stream on Nov. 12, which is also Disney+ Day.)
Black Widow, which debuted on July 9, earned $80 million at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend and $78 million at the worldwide box office. It earned another $60 million from the Disney+ Premier $30 rental fees on the platform.
Simu Liu inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.Marvel
Shang-Chisees lead starSimu Liumake his breakout performance as the lead character Shang-Chi, a skilled martial artist who has been trained as an assassin since childhood. After leaving the Ten Rings organization to pursue a normal life in San Francisco, he’s forced to confront his past once again.
The blockbuster is making history as the first installment in the MCU with an Asian lead and a predominantly Asian cast. It’s a welcome form of representationamid rising hate crimesagainst the AAPI community during the pandemic.
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Liu, 32, previouslyspoke to PEOPLEabout breaking barriers in the MCU and joining the Avengers. “I’m excited and I think for all of the good and the bad of what’s to come, it’s definitely a journey that I feel very privileged to be going on,” he said in May.
“I know how much it would’ve meant to kids and to myself as a kid seeing this when I was younger. I totally understand the importance of it,” Liu added. “I know that it’s not going to be easy, but at the same time, I feel so incredibly excited to be a part of this movement that gets to push society forward… It gets to deepen the conversation, it gets to normalize seeing Asian faces on screen and hearing Asian voices and our stories.”
RELATED VIDEO: Simu Liu Talks ‘Dream Come True’ on Playing First Asian Marvel Superhero
The news ofShang-Chi’s feat at the box office also comes about after Johansson sued Disney in July forbreach of contractafter the company released herBlack Widowin movie theaters and on Disney+ simultaneously.
A Walt Disney Company spokesperson later released a statement slamming the lawsuit, saying: “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract and furthermore, the release ofBlack Widowon Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”
Johansson has starred as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow since 2010’sIron Man 2and has since been an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically the company’sAvengersfilms. Her character died in 2019’sAvengers: Endgame.Black Widowwas Johansson’s only spinoff film involving her character.
source: people.com
