Shang-Chi Actor Simu Liu Plays The Race Card Against Disney

Movies

Marvel’s latest diverse lead actor, Simu Liu, has lashed out at Disney CEO Bob Chapek for calling Shang-Chi an “experiment.”

Liu posted on Twitter, “We are not an experiment. We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise. I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US.”

We are not an experiment.

We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.

We are the surprise.

I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US. pic.twitter.com/IcyFzh0KIb

— Simu Liu (刘思慕) (@SimuLiu) August 14, 2021

This comes in response to Disney CEO Bob Chapek calling the film an “experiment” at a Disney earnings call. As the release of Black Widow in theatres and simultaneously on Disney+ affected box office numbers, leading to Scarlett Johansson launching legal action, an investor asked if Disney should delay or pause upcoming theatrical releases. Chapek responded by saying Disney “values flexibility” and couldn’t have anticipated the reemergence of COVID via the Delta variant.

The investor followed up by questioning why Disney wouldn’t release the movies simultaneously on Disney+ with premier access and in theatres. Chapek responded, “On Shang-Chi, we think it’s actually going to be an interesting experiment for us because it’s got only a 45-day window for us.”

There is the explanation from Chapek regarding the experiment in context, with “experiment” meaning the exclusive theatrical release and not the race or “culture” of actors and characters appearing in Shang-Chi. 

Chapek continued, “So the prospect of being able to take a Marvel title to the service after going theatrical with 45 days would be yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles.”

This further confirms Disney’s goal in the “experiment” of the Shang-Chi release: to allow theatres an exclusive release while gaining “data” to better understand Disney’s release strategies moving forward in this uncertain time.

Some responses to Liu’s tweet called out the actor for misrepresenting Chapek’s statement. 

Are you making something about race here?
His statement was about a 45 day window.

— ENGLENTINE FROM I LOVE COMICS (@Englentine) August 14, 2021

Pretty sure the comment was about the way it’s being released, 45 days in theaters only, then it becomes available on Disney+, & not the subject/ethnicities involved in the film. I want to see the film, hope you guys do well, but won’t because of the bs Disney pulled w/ release

— Brian K. Shea (@IcarusStandard) August 14, 2021