"Avengers Star Simu Liu: Marvel Keeps Secrets Due to Holland, Ruffalo"

It's official: Shang-Chi is set to make a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During the Avengers: Doomsday livestream, fans were thrilled to learn that Simu Liu would be reprising his role. However, true to form, Marvel Studios kept details under wraps, and Liu remained tight-lipped about his involvement beyond seeing his name on a chair alongside other MCU legends.

Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was a major event, especially for fans of the X-Men. The announcement included veteran actors like Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden, confirming the X-Men's significant presence in the film. Grammer, who played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, known for portraying Charles Xavier/Professor X, briefly appeared in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. Meanwhile, McKellen, Cumming, Romijn, and Marsden, who played Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops respectively, are yet to appear in the MCU. This raises an intriguing question: could Avengers: Doomsday be setting the stage for an epic Avengers vs. X-Men showdown?

"I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity,” Liu shared during his recent appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show. “But I didn't know who else they were announcing. They don't tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don't tell us.”

Liu's comments humorously nod to the well-known leaks by Holland concerning the MCU’s Spider-Man series and Ruffalo’s tendency to spill plot points about the Avengers. Since these incidents, Marvel has tightened its grip on spoilers, keeping even the most seasoned actors in the dark.

In addition to his role in the MCU, Liu also featured as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. He was taken aback by the caliber of his co-stars in Avengers: Doomsday. “I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced,” he said during the interview. “These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit.”

The anticipation surrounding Avengers: Doomsday continues to grow. Liu first brought Shang-Chi to life in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, and fans have been eagerly awaiting his return. With a release date set for May 1, 2026, and a star-studded cast now confirmed, the film remains shrouded in mystery. But as the premiere date approaches, more details are sure to emerge—spoilers or otherwise.

Meanwhile, MCU enthusiasts are also buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.’s recent Doctor Doom-themed birthday invitation, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding MCU saga.