Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige says meeting Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Tony Leung left him speechless. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-drove hero film, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi, has finally made its way to theaters. The film follows Simu Liu as Marvel’s eponymous Master of Kung Fu who is pressured into confronting his father, Wenwu, and the Ten Rings criminal organization. The film’s cast includes Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Benedict Wong, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, and Leung.
In a new interview with Film Companion, Feige talked about how fortunate the MCU is that Leung decided to be a part of Shang-Chi. Feige also recalled being left “nearly speechless” after meeting the actor. Read what he had to say beneath:
“Tony Leung appears to be something else altogether of celebrity,” said Feige “He is an incredibly, talented man. I don’t feel it was a masterstroke for us, I feel we were fortunate that he picked us to make his first Hollywood film appearance in [Shang-Chi] and give all of himself and all of his talent to creating this amazing, amazing character of Wenwu. I’ve been around a ton of celebrities and a great deal of living legends, yet I was nearly speechless when I met him momentarily on the set. Because he seems like an otherworldly star straightforwardly from the sky [laughs].”
During an “Ask Me Anything” meeting on r/MarvelStudios, Liu was asked what it resembled working with Leung. Liu depicted the experience as “a master class in acting” and called Leung “just as legendary as the legends say.” In addition to performing his own tricks, Liu also turns out a serious performance in an admittedly exceptionally personal film. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is at present receiving universal acclaim for its action successions, heart, and, obviously, Leung’s villain.