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Is Shang-Chi Iron Fist Explained


Credit: Marvel Studios

After months of waiting, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings finally unveiled its official trailer, and right off the bat, you can tell that the film is going to be a breath of fresh air and something that we haven't seen before from Marvel Studios. While it's safe to assume that the project will feature all the usual MCU elements, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will differ from the rest thanks to its martial arts action.

Speaking of martial arts, after the official teaser for the upcoming MCU Phase 4 film was released, MCU fans quickly stormed social media to compare Shang-Chi to another iconic Marvel character Danny Rand aka Iron Fist. Naturally, if you're a casual fan of the comics and the films, there's a good chance that you might get confused with the identity of both characters and some of you may even think that they're actually the same person so let's break it down for you.


Is Shang-Chi and Iron Fist the same person?


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Credit: Marvel Studios

Despite their similarities, the quick answer to that is no. Shang-Chi and Iron Fist are actually two separate characters and that's about it. In fact, besides his martial arts background and expertise in using weapons, Shang-Chi doesn't actually possess any crazy superpowers in the comics, unlike Iron Fist who harnesses spiritual energy.

Now, if you're wondering if the two characters share some history in the Marvel universe, both Shang-Chi and Danny Rand have actually had several run-ins in the comics and at one point, Shang-Chi even saved Iron Fist from an abduction attempt by the Bride of the Nine Spiders.


Will Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduce Iron Fist to the MCU?



While the future of Iron Fist remains unclear for now, it's worth mentioning that Marvel Studios is slowly integrating the Defenders into the franchise starting with Daredevil who is heavily rumored to be making an appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Now, considering Netflix blew the Iron Fist character, it would be a gamble for the studio to reintroduce the character in his own standalone project so the best option now is to have him turn up in a future Shang-Chi sequel.

Personally, I'd be down to see Iron Fist make his grand MCU debut in Shang-Chi 2 with actor Finn Jones reprising the role but it's a little too early to tell exactly what happens next. One thing's for sure though, the possibilities are endless and since it's the Marvel universe we're talking about, as cliche as it may sound, the sky is truly the limit. For now, let's just enjoy Shang-Chi's upcoming debut in the MCU.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will hit cinemas on September 3, 2021.

Also Read: Iron Fist Trends Following Shang-Chi Trailer Premiere as Marvel Fans Compare Both Heroes

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Credit: Netflix

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