"Avengers Star Simu Liu: Marvel Keeps Secrets Due to Holland and Ruffalo"

Exciting news for Marvel fans: Shang-Chi is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During the Avengers: Doomsday livestream, it was confirmed that Simu Liu will reprise his role as Shang-Chi in the upcoming ensemble film. However, due to Marvel Studios' strict policy on spoilers, Liu himself remained tight-lipped about his involvement, only revealed through his name on a chair alongside other MCU stars.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal last month was dominated by veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all confirmed to join the film, signaling a significant presence of the X-Men. Grammer, who portrayed Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Patrick Stewart, known for his role as Charles Xavier/Professor X, briefly appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen (Magneto), Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops) are yet to make their MCU debuts. This raises the intriguing question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

Simu Liu shared on the Jennifer Hudson Show that he knew he would be involved in Avengers: Doomsday to some extent, but was kept in the dark about other cast announcements. He humorously pointed out that previous leaks by Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo have led Marvel to keep all plot details under wraps, not just from known spoilers but from all cast members.

Liu, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, expressed his awe at seeing the names of Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart announced for the film. He described them as "two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth," a sentiment that left him astounded.

Simu Liu first portrayed Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021. With Avengers: Doomsday slated for a May 1, 2026 release, and a plethora of high-profile names attached to the project, the film remains shrouded in mystery. However, fans can expect more details to emerge in the coming year, spoilers or not.

In other MCU news, fans have been buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.'s recent Doctor Doom-themed invitation for his 60th birthday party, sparking speculation about his hair and potential future roles.