Marvel Studios will release its first film centered on an Asian superhero on Friday. Simu Liu, in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is a rising actor best known for featuring in the Canadian television series, Kim. It also stars martial arts film legends Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh. It is directed by Destin Daniels Cretton, who was born and raised in Maui. Russell Sabiono of The Conversation spoke with Cretton about the film. (The interview has been edited for clarity.)
SUBIONO: You made some small features early in your career. I'm not a hipster. Short Term 12. The Glass Castle. Just mercy What do you think Marvel saw in those movies that gave them the confidence to hand over the reins to you?
Cretan: At its core, this movie is actually a small family drama wrapped up in the style of a martial arts movie and a big action superhero. And I think one of Marvel's strengths out of all of its movies is the concentration on character and relationships. I think they are related to the films that I have done so far. And that was really something that he constantly reminded me of, to remember to include in this movie as well.
SUBIONO: I definitely saw a very strong family dynamic within the film. And you know we're coming from Hawaii. that your family is strong. And so that's what I really appreciated about the film. I grew up in Waimea on the Big Island. I know you grew up in Maui in Haiku. Our towns have roughly the same population, and we are roughly the same age. I still feel like I'm a few years away from having the skill set to produce a show at NPR. How was it for you to move from small town to small films? As for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Were you 100% ready? Or was it still a leap of faith?
Creighton: I think every film is a complete leap of faith for me. I walk into pre-production on every film and feel completely out of my element. I feel like how did I get here in the world? There's no way I'm going to get away with it. All the self-doubt kicks in. And I don't know. The more I explore the industry and meet more people I respect and admire and admire their work - I've found that the people I really respect work like that. feel the same. They often feel that under that pressure is that self-doubt. And to me those are the people who are just being honest, because... whatever field you're in, if you're pushing your limits, you're always doing something you haven't done before, so it's always It would look really scary. . And it was definitely intimidating when I started, but I was working with a really incredible team of people that I really loved. And on screen it is a family drama. Behind the camera, we really became a family during the two years making it.
SUBIONO: When Marvel announced back in 2018 that they intended to bring Shang-Chi to the MCU, how much did Simu Liu's tweet actually factor into his casting as Shang-Chi?
Creighton: [laughs] I mean, really, not at all. I mean, I'm not sure what was happening and maybe ethereal if there were some positive vibes going out in the air, but we didn't know about the tweet until then. The hard fact is that Simu surprisingly you know, was discovered by our first casting director, Sarah Finn, who is looking for every actor in the business who can possibly play the role. And then Simu came in and proved himself over and over again during three very intense auditions. And he really proved himself right for the character.