Awkwafina Helped Shang-Chi's Simu Liu Feel At Ease with Playing an MCU Superhero
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- Category: Interviews
- Published: Thursday, 02 September 2021 23:35
- Written by Lupe R Haas
Simu Liu is about to become a household name playing MCU's newest Avenger in SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. The Kim's Convenience actor says he felt like an imposter on the set of the Marvel film and constantly thought he was going to "mess it up." However, his costar Awkwakina helped him feel at ease with his high-profile role.
The Master of Kung Fu aka Shang-Chi in the Marvel comics comes to the big screen with Simu Liu playing the iconic comic book character. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS also marks the first time an Asian cast headlines a major superhero blockbuster, not just for Marvel but for any major Hollywood studio. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS also stars Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh and Meng'er Zhang.
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There's no doubt Liu felt pressure to deliver on all fronts.
"My nerves were sky-high. I was an actor from Toronto, and I really had never allowed myself to imagine being a part of the MCU. I mean, it’s the craziest dream that someone can possibly dream."
Luckily his costar Awkwafina who plays his best friend in the Marvel movie was there to alleviate his fears from the very start.
"I mean it was like imposter syndrome every single day," he said at the press conference with his costars, Kevin Feige and director Destin Daniel Cretton. "It was truly such a treat and, it was all I could do just not to not mess it up, you know. When I was first cast, I did my final screen test with Nora, and she did such a wonderful job of putting me at ease."
Liu added they hit it off right away and played the "bickering old couple chemistry" from the start, which comes off on screen. "We slipped into that very quickly, yeah,' Awkwafina confirmed.
Once he met more of his fellow actors he became much more comfortable with being on set.
"That was so beautiful and as I met, you know, more of the members of the cast like Tony and Michelle and Sir Ben.... I mean, it just, every day it was like waking up to another dream."
Simu Liu's dream is now a reality when SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS hits movie theaters exclusively on September 3rd.