Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings remains one of Marvel’s best-reviewed projects after its initial debut in September 2021. However, more than two years after its release, there is no timeframe for when a sequel could be released within the MCU.
The first Shang-Chi movie brought a classic villain to life in the real Mandarin, who turned out to be Shang-Chi’s father, Tony Leung‘s Wenwu. But with the MCU expanding fast into new lore, questions are already being asked about which villain Simu Liu‘s Master of Martial Arts could face next.
While there is no confirmation on the character that will embody that villain role, one actor has thrown his name into the ring to play the part.
’The Sympathizer’s Fred Nguyen Khan Wants To Be a Michael B. Jordan-Level Villain in the MCU
Speaking exclusively with Agents of Fandom for his work in The Sympathizer, Fred Nguyen Khan addressed taking on a potential role in the MCU. For perspective, The Sympathizer has MCU veteran Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan Downey, as executive producers.
When asked what role he would want to play in the MCU, Khan looked to the Shang-Chi franchise with his background in martial arts. Mentioning Iron Fist, he also threw his name out to play a villain, hoping to make as big of an impact as Michael B. Jordan‘s Killmonger in 2018’s Black Panther:
“So, for people who don’t know my background at all, I’m actually a lifelong martial artist. I grew up in a martial arts family, I actually trained at the Shaolin Temple for a few months. For me, the idea of portraying a character…Shang-Chi’s already taken, obviously, but that would’ve been the one back then. I mean, there’s Iron Fist, maybe. But you know what? I would love to play the villain in a Shang-Chi movie. I want to be the Killmonger of Shang-Chi.
—Fred Nguyen Khan on who he would want to play in the MCU
Who Could Fred Nguyen Khan Play in ‘Shang-Chi 2’?
With Shang-Chi’s MCU future in limbo, it’s difficult to nail down one character who Fred Nguyen Khan could play in the upcoming sequel. Particularly with the first movie setting up Meng’er Zhang‘s Xialing as the new leader of the Ten Rings, there are plenty of options for who could slide into that lead villain role.
Some have imagined the MCU taking on Mr. Negative, who was one of the main characters in Sony’s Spider-Man video game trilogy. Stephen Oyoung, the actor who played the villain, even expressed interest in reprising that role for the MCU should Marvel be looking for an actor.
Additionally, many are also hoping for the Hand to return to the fray, which could be a perfect enemy for Shang-Chi to face. Particularly since the organization has been absent from the MCU since the Defenders Saga, a reintroduction in Shang-Chi 2 could be perfect for a comeback.
For now, fans simply have to wait to find out when exactly Shang-Chi 2 will go into production, especially with the schedule still so jam-packed. But with Fred Nguyen Khan being eager to take on a role, Marvel may want to take a look at this actor to join the ranks of the highest-grossing franchise ever.
Simu Liu recently provided an update on the Shang-Chi sequel on his personal Threads account. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.
