TV & Movies

The breakout star is just getting started.

Simu Liuis unapologetically Asian.

The best advice hes ever received is To see being Asian as a superpower rather than a hindrance.

Simu Liu is the star of ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.'

We have little homages to Jackie, Liu says.

We felt his DNA everyday.

ButShang-Chialso flips the script, dispensing with the outsider narrative seen in many of Chans Hollywood movies.

Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi in Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.'

Liu himself helped shape those heroes and heroines, ensuring the story was told through an Asian lens.

He savored the chance to offer input, as he hasnt always had such inclusive collaborators.

But Liu isnt waiting for the world to catch up.

(Look out for his forthcoming memoir,We Were Dreamers, for more on the latter.)

Theres a good chance that this movie could change the course of your career.

Who from the Marvel world advised and supported you as you took on this role?

You could tell that he was really, really thoughtful with what he was telling me.

Henry Golding recently spoke up about the “toxic” haterswho have criticized him and you leading up toShang-Chi.

Have you and Henry spoken directly about it?

I think weve been very vocally supportive of each other.

Its so incredibly important for our community to uplift each other and well definitely continue to do that.

I hope we do get the chance to sit down at some point and have a longer conversation.

I hear you could sing.

Any chance youll show up on a Marvel soundtrack sometime soon?

MaybeGuardians of the Galaxy Vol.

I would love to be in a musical set in the MCU.

Im pitching it right now in this Bustle article.

Which MCU character would you be most excited to see Shang-Chi share a scene with?

All I can say is, I look forward to any interaction with anybody else in the MCU.

If I should be so lucky, I would be absolutely down for it.

I think we really do have an all new character on our hands.

How did working on theShang-Chiset compare to your time onKims Convenience?

I was surprised by how valued my voice was.

And I really, really appreciated that.

Youre writing a book about your parents lives.

What do you hope readers will take away from your familys story?

I hope that theyll take away the duality of [my parents and my] journeys.

Whats the best advice youve received about working in Hollywood as an Asian actor?

I look forward to being joined by many others.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

This article was originally published onSep.