After concluding Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers: End Game, there was a serious need for Marvel Studios to introduce brand-new characters for viewers to fall in love with in Phase Four. One of the characters who immediately captured the hearts of fans was Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) after his debut film. Therefore, it’s no surprise Shang-Chi is featured throughout What If…? Season 3 on Disney+.
In an exclusive interview with Agents of Fandom, What If…? director Bryan Andrews revealed that Shang-Chi would always be a significant priority for Marvel Studios heading into What If…? Season 3. Fans are still waiting for Shang-Chi to reappear in live-action, but in the meantime, an animated Western story featuring the character will have to do to satiate viewers.
‘What If…?’ Director Bryan Andrews Reveals His Inspiration Behind Season 3’s Shang-Chi Episode
“We wanted to do more with Shang-Chi, so as soon as we got Shang-Chi we’re like okay! And that brought certain things both historical that we can kind of riff on, and then some other things that had been percolating allowed itself to eat into that episode too as fuel, so we’re like great, great let’s use that. So yeah, we we’re all excited to do something you know to finally branch out and get even more genre specific and just lean into the western aspect of it. Yeah, I’m stoked it turned out really well.”
—Bryan Andrews on utilizing Shang-Chi for What If…? Season 3
Regardless of which episode he would fit into, Shang-Chi was always in the plan for What If…? Season 3. It’s fitting he’s paired up with fellow Phase Four newcomer Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) for the episode. Still, director Bryan Andrews also revealed the Western episode nearly took a far more serious turn.
The Shang-Chi Episode in ‘What If…?’ Season 3 Was Almost Very Different
“I’ve always wanted to do a western and the original idea I had was like, maybe a little too much for like Brad and company. It was like it was way too heady and dealt into reconstruction, and post-civil war, and like you know the war isn’t actually won, there’s still like a problem with like racism and the rest of like big stuff. But… like that’s almost like its own series right? You could really sink your teeth into all that stuff. But, he was still in love with the idea of possibly doing a western so that’s what we pivoted to.”
—Bryan Andrews on the changes made to the Shang-Chi episode in What If…? Season 3
Sadly, Andrews’ full pitch has yet to see the light of day despite its potential to add meaningful commentary within the MCU. However, it makes complete sense that a short episode in What If…? Season 3 wouldn’t be the place to tell that type of story. As Andrews said, that story could warrant its own entire series or at least an arc of a few episodes. Either way, viewers are ready for more Shang-Chi and Kate Bishop in the MCU.
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