When it was announced that Marvel was bringing its most prominent Asian superhero, Shang-Chi, to the big screen, fans on social media pretty much went nuts. The noble, badass, martial arts warrior inspired by the great Bruce Lee made his comic debut in 1973 under the title Special Marvel Edition. Shang-Chi is a no-brainer for Hollywood execs looking to tap into the next global, billion-grossing tentpole.

As for who will work on the film, the wish list of names is already flying. Sam Liu, who has directed such Marvel and DC animated films as Planet Hulk (2010), Justice League Gods and Monsters (2015), and The Death of Superman (2018), is an out-of-the-box pick to direct. As for who will take on the star-making role of Shang-Chi, there has been no shortage of lists floating on the web, with candidates Lewis Tan (who deserves a do-over after Deadpool 2) and Ludi Lin topping many lists.

Created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin, Shang-Chi headlined his own series from the mid ‘70s to 1983. And he’s been a part of the Marvel universe on and off for decades. So it was inevitable that following the immense success of the landmark hit Black Panther—which featured a predominantly black cast and crew and the much anticipated May 8, 2019 release of Captain Marvel, the studio’s first headlining female hero flick—that Marvel would continue to tap the well of diversity. 

So far the reaction has been optimistic, particularly from Asian film fans. “Marvel is finally making an Asian-American superhero movie and even more importantly: They are hiring Asian-American filmmakers to tell the story. BEST. NEWS,” posted journalist Linda Ge on Twitter. The Hollywood Reporter’s Rebecca Sun went even deeper with a respectful nod to the men and women who brought the late Stan Lee’s Wakanda vision to life. 

“Today's very exciting news about Marvel making a #ShangChimovie should include acknowledgment and gratitude to the talented African-American filmmakers and creatives who paved the way, by showing big studios that authentic storytelling pays dividends and it matters who tells it,” she praised. 

With the mammoth commercial splash of Crazy Rich Asians ($237,958,573 and counting), the question is what took so long? From the cinematic genius of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa to the classic 1993 family drama The Joy Luck Club, Asian visionaries and talent have always held their own in Hollywood when given the opportunity. More importantly, having Asian creatives behind an explosive, action-heavy Shang-Chi project means that one disturbing aspect of his storyline will forever be banished. 

Yes, Marvel has long left behind the more stereotypical elements of its character. Originally written as the son of Fu Man Chu, a highly offensive, and some say racist villain first created by white pulp novelist Sax Rohmer back in the early 1900’s, Shang-Chi's bio simply alludes to a criminal overlord as his patriarch now. Marvel writers demonstrated the ability to deviate from these stereotypes, even making fun of them, in Iron Man 3. The problematic Mandarin villain was played by Ben Kingsley (a nod to white actors always playing the stereotypical Fu Man Chu) and was shown to be a puppet for the actual evildoer—Aldrich Killian.

Now Marvel has a chance to make a clean slate for a criminally underrated character. As we ponder the fates of our beloved heroes in the upcoming 2019 epic Avengers 4: Endgame, here’s a breakdown of why Shang-Chi should give us all hope for the future.

5. Shang-Chi Is Freaking Cool AF

Let’s just start with the fact that the New York-based hero carries the title of the greatest martial arts fighter in the world. To put such a lofty reputation in perspective, Shang-Chi was once asked to train Spider-Man in the art of Kung Fu after the Web Head lost his spider-sense. Black Panther once deemed Shang as the superior fighter over Iron Fist himself. 

Shang’s complete mastery of “chi” allows the weapons specialist (he carries nunchuks specially designed by Tony Stark that can discharge blasts and utilize his powerful chi) to go beyond human limitations. He has the ability to dodge bullets, effect pressure points, deflect projectiles with his bracers, resist the effects of some drugs and poisons, limit the spread of toxins in his blood stream, and lift twice the size of his bodyweight and more starting at 350 lbs. And after being exposed to cosmic radiation, Shang-Chi was granted the ability to create an unlimited number of duplicates of himself. Yeah, he’s a problem. 

4. The Kung Fu Master Could Ignite Another Martial Arts Film Boon

Shang-Chi doesn’t exist in a vacuum. As previously noted, during the early ‘70s, the character leaped off the Marvel comic pages following the emergence of the iconic Bruce Lee. The influential action hero seemingly had everyone in America enrolling in traditional karate and kung fu classes. This was the era when such revolutionary Hong Kong movie studios and filmmakers as Lo Wei (Fists of Fury), Golden Harvest (1973’s Enter the Dragon), and the Shaw Brothers (1973’s Five Fingers of Death and 1978’s Five Deadly Venoms) were producing some of the genre’s most influential works. 

Jackie Chan took the mantle from the late Lee, pioneering an entirely different comic influenced style of kung fu highlighted by such films as Drunken Master (1978), The Young Master (1980) and Police Story (1985). There would be even bigger triumphs. Chan became a box office star in America with his Rush Hour movie series alongside comedian Chris Tucker. The more stoic Jet Li found immense mainstream success as well, garnering his first lead role in a Hollywood film with Romeo Must Die (2000). 

From the emergence of hip-hop’s seminal Wu-Tang Clan to Quentin Tarantino’s critically-acclaimed Kill Bill saga, everybody was still kung fu fighting. Ang Lee’s celebrated drama Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. But after the greatness of Stephen Chow’s brilliant 2004 comedy Kung Fu Hustle, the re-energized martial arts format quieted down a bit. Done right, a Shang-Chi film could be a much needed shot in the arm for the genre. Just get Donnie Yen (Blade II, Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny) to choreograph the fight scenes.  

3. Shang-Chi Means More Big Screen Street Heroes 

Just because Netflix canceled Marvel’s heavily grounded series Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist doesn’t mean we should say goodbye to NYC’s urban heavy hitters. Remember, Shang-Chi has teamed up with (and battled) The Man Without Fear (Charlie Cox, please!) on several occasions. Shang is also a floating member of Misty Knight’s Heroes For Hire outfit. So it’s not a stretch of the imagination to witness Harlem’s finest Power Man and the chi-powered Danny Rand handing out immaculate fades with Shang-Li. Indeed, Marvel’s street branch heroes and antiheroes deserve some cinematic love. 

Besides, there are a plethora of big screen returns to be made from Blade (get Wesley Snipes on the phone), the Punisher (Jonathan Bernthal’s excellent Netflix turn as Frank Castle would pop in movie theaters), Daughters of the Dragon (MORE Misty and Colleen Wing) and Ghost Rider (say NO to Nicolas Cage) as well as the official film introduction of the criminally underrated Moon Knight. Make it happen Marvel. 

2. Marvel Will Need Fresh Blood After Avengers 4

Judging from the long awaited trailer for the Avengers 4, Thanos pretty much has Earth’s Mightiest Heroes decimated, shook and bewildered. We will spare you with the rumors of who will survive, die, or be resurrected. Two of the studio’s biggest acting stalwarts of the Marvel film universe, Robert Downey Jr. (Ironman) and Chris Evans (Captain America), are reportedly set to exit stage right. Which means the emergence of Shang-Chi represents the future of not only the Avengers (Shang is a known off-shoot member of the Avengers crew in the comics and has received the ultimate co-sign from Steve Rogers), but the next chapter of storytelling led by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. 

1. More Diversity Behind The Camera Is NEVER A Bad Thing 

It’s not enough to have actors of color receiving a much-deserved Hollywood spotlight. What happens in the writers’ room and behind the camera is even more profound and impactful. Sure, the universally hailed blockbuster Black Panther made news for its stellar, talented, largely Black cast. But the fact that the Golden Globe nominated film boasted an African-American director (Ryan Coogler), production designer (Hannah Beachler), costume designer (Ruth E. Carter), co-writer (Joe Robert Cole), and executive producer (Nate Moore) offers the perfect template of inclusion for Shang-Chi. 

And yes, authenticity matters. Chinese-American scribe Dave Callaham, who handled co-writing duties on the upcoming Warner Bros. sequel Wonder Woman 1984, has already been tapped to pen the screenplay. And Marvel is reportedly in search of a director of Asian descent to lead Shang-Chi’s Tinsel Town debut. Pass the popcorn.