Marvel / Marvel Movies

Is Shang-Chi in Any Other Marvel Movies?

If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), you might be wondering if Shang-Chi has made any appearances in other Marvel movies. Shang-Chi is a relatively new character to the MCU, having only been introduced in his own solo film, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,’ which was released in September 2021. However, there are a few other MCU movies that have hinted at Shang-Chi’s existence.

Iron Man 3

One of the most significant nods to Shang-Chi in a previous MCU movie comes from ‘Iron Man 3.’ In this film, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) finds himself stranded in rural Tennessee with a malfunctioning Iron Man suit.

To fix his suit, he seeks help from a young boy named Harley Keener (played by Ty Simpkins). During their interactions, Harley tells Tony about a guy he knows who could help him out – a “master martial artist.” While we never see this martial artist on screen, many fans speculate that this person could have been Shang-Chi.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Another potential reference to Shang-Chi comes from ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron.’ In one scene, Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) goes on a quest for knowledge and visits a mysterious pool of water in an underground cave.

While there, he experiences various visions and encounters several characters from the MCU’s past and future. One of these characters is an armored warrior who many believe could be Shang-Chi.

The Netflix Marvel Shows

While not technically part of the MCU, the Marvel shows produced by Netflix take place within the same universe and have referenced events from the movies. In ‘Daredevil’ season one, there is a brief reference to “the incident,” which is how the Battle of New York from the first ‘Avengers’ movie is referred to in-universe. In ‘Iron Fist,’ one character mentions a “man who can dodge bullets,” which could also be a nod to Shang-Chi.

In conclusion, Shang-Chi has not made any physical appearances in the MCU prior to his debut film, but there have been a few nods and references to his existence. It’s unclear if these references were intentional or if they were just Easter eggs for fans to pick up on. Regardless, it’s exciting to see how Marvel has been building up their universe over the years and how they continue to incorporate new characters like Shang-Chi into their storytelling.