Kevin Feige Clarifies "Experiment" Comments About Shang-Chi

Last week, Disney CEO Bob Chapek responded to a question during a Disney investor's call, regarding the planned release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In his answer, Chapek explained that Shang-Chi was "an interesting experiment" for Disney because it would only be exclusively released in the theatrical window for 45 days. This meant that the movie would presumably make the jump to the Disney+ streaming service just 45 days after its scheduled theatrical debut on September 3.

The comments, however, were not taken as such by many people online, including the film's star Simu Liu, who took to social media to express his frustration. "We are not an experiment," Liu stated.

During the premiere event for the film, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige responded to both Chapek and Liu's comments, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “[Liu] is not a shy man," Feige said. "I think in that particular tweet you can see, and I think everyone does, a misunderstanding. It was not the intention. The proof is in the movie and we swing for the fences as we always do. With the amount of creative energy we put in and the budget, there’s no expense spared to bring this origin story to the screen.”

Feige then went on to praise Liu for his job in the role of Shang-Chi, and emphasize Liu's sentiment that the movie will be a bright spot for many who are downtrodden by the ongoing pandemic. "There's no magic formula," Feige explained about Liu's audition process. “It's a feeling. It’s a sense of both the ability to be relatable and grounded and, at the same time, take your place in that pantheon of heroes should everything go so well in an origin story they will end up with the other pandemic heroes."

He also teased that Shang-Chi will have a "direct line" to where the character heads next in the MCU.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on September 3.