The leading fan theory points to the Rings’ comic-book creators: the alien race known as the Makluans. Their planet, Maklu-IV, has been name-dropped in Guardians of the Galaxy lore. Could Shang-Chi 2 introduce a cosmic, dragon-like villain? Or perhaps the signal is a warning about an even greater threat: Fin Fang Foom , the iconic Marvel dragon.
Status: Pre-production
Now, with production finally heating up, we break down everything we know, everything we suspect, and why Shang-Chi 2 might just be the most important solo film in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. Marvel’s infamous “content crunch” post- Endgame —coupled with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes—pushed many projects back. But Cretton’s schedule was also uniquely packed. After helming the first Shang-Chi , he was tapped to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty . When Marvel pivoted away from Kang actor Jonathan Majors and rechristened the film Avengers: Doomsday (with the Russo Brothers returning), Cretton shifted gears back to his original passion project: the Shang-Chi sequel. shang-chi 2
By Alex Chen, Senior Entertainment Writer The leading fan theory points to the Rings’
This would allow the film to retain its martial arts soul while escalating into the mystical. Cretton has also expressed love for the Immortal Iron Fist comics (the Fraction/Aja run), hinting that the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven could be the sequel’s new playground. Shang-Chi 2 isn’t happening in a vacuum. By the time it releases (rumored for May 2026 or February 2027 ), the MCU will have seen Avengers: Doomsday and the first Spider-Man 4 . That means Shang-Chi might enter his sequel as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, not an origin story kid. Or perhaps the signal is a warning about
It has been over four years since Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings exploded onto screens, shattering box office records during the pandemic’s tail-end and earning over $432 million worldwide. Critics hailed it as “the MCU’s best origin story since Iron Man .” Fans fell in love with Simu Liu’s earnest charisma, Awkwafina’s scene-stealing wit, and the breathtaking wuxia-infused action.