Summary
- The sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been highly anticipated by fans, and director Destin Daniel Cretton will be focusing on the project instead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
- The search for a new director for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is underway, and Marvel Studios has several options to choose from, including considering directors who have already worked with the company.
- Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who directed episodes of Loki and Moon Knight, could be strong candidates for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but their involvement with other projects may affect their availability for the film.
It seems that the new adventures of Simu Liu as Shang-Chi are getting closer. The sequel to the 2021 film was announced shortly after the debut of the first part, but little positive news has been shared about Shang-Chi 2. Until now.
The movie, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, follows the story of the titular character, who appears to be an ordinary man who works as a parking valet. However, he hides a dangerous and dark past. Shang-Chi was raised by his father, a powerful man who leads a criminal organization, and who trained him to become an expert in martial arts. When his past catches up with him, Shang-Chi must return to China to help the village his mother belonged to and stop his own father, who went mad after the loss of his wife.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of the great hits of Marvel Studios in recent years, so fans have been eagerly awaiting news about the sequel. In an article published by The Hollywood Reporter, it was confirmed that Destin Daniel Cretton will no longer direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, as he will focus on the Shang-Chi sequel, after which he will also direct the Wonder Man series, which will be part of Marvel Studios’ new banner, Spotlight.
Earlier this year, Simu Liu revealed that the sequel would arrive after Avengers 5, which will hit theaters in May 2026, so there is still a long way to go before Shang-Chi returns to the big screen with his own film. However, it is possible that the character will appear in the franchise’s next big crossover.
Who Should Direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty?
Now that Destin Daniel Cretton is no longer on board, Marvel Studios will have to look for a new director or directors to lead the team of one of the most important films of the MCU’s future, and also one of the most complicated ones.
The legal situation of Jonathan Majors, and the poor performance of some of the most recent productions of the franchise, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania or The Marvels, has led the studio to consider changing the focus of its main plot, leaving Kang the Conqueror aside. Or at least that’s what recent reports indicate. However, Marvel Studios has not confirmed this information, but Cretton’s departure has set off alarm bells with fans, so choosing a new director will be an important decision for the studio.
Marvel Studios has a long list of filmmakers who have worked for the company from whom they could choose, as well as bringing in someone who has not yet had the opportunity to join the MCU would also be a good call. However, opting for someone who has already achieved success with them would be a wise decision. And the answer may be found in the second season of Loki.
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead directed four of the six episodes of the second installment of the God of Mischief series, including episodes five and six, the most acclaimed ones. In addition, they directed two episodes of Moon Knight, which makes them very good candidates for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, Benson and Moorhead were recently brought onboard again to direct Daredevil: Born Again, so their future in the MCU seems brighter than ever, but their dance card could be too full to take on a huge Avengers movie as well.