Simu Liu Reflects on Hollywood Challenges Post-Shang-Chi & First Lead Role After 4 Years

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Simu Liu is sharing his thoughts on the challenges of being in Hollywood, especially after playing the main character in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Released in 2021, Shang-Chi was a major turning point for both Liu and for seeing more diversity in blockbuster films. It was Marvel’s first superhero movie with an Asian lead, and it came out during the COVID-19 pandemic when many theaters were still limiting attendance.

Even with the challenges it faced, the movie grossed $432.2 million globally and became one of the year’s biggest hits in theaters. Many people saw this as evidence that viewers were interested in new and different kinds of superhero stories. However, according to Liu, the film industry didn’t react to this success as much as you might expect.

Liu recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the challenges he’s encountered since the film came out, and explained why his next project, The Copenhagen Test, is particularly important to him.

When asked what he wished he’d known before working on Shang-Chi, the actor openly discussed the ongoing difficulties Asian actors experience in Hollywood. Here’s what he had to say:

It’s a long journey, and lasting success is more about consistently working over time than having one big hit. It’s also much harder for actors of color. I know that might be a controversial opinion, but after experiencing some success myself, I’ve seen how the system works. Once certain actors get noticed, opportunities keep coming easily. That hasn’t been my experience. I still face a constant struggle and often question if the roles I’m offered are the best ones for me – I wish I had access to better opportunities.

After appearing in the popular Marvel movie, Liu expected to receive many offers for leading roles. However, he explained that he mostly received offers for lower-budget films, roles within larger casts, or smaller supporting parts. Here’s what he shared about his experience:

I often found myself in smaller-budget projects, playing supporting roles – maybe a villain, but rarely the hero. I was happy to be involved, and it was a significant part of my work. However, after the success of Shang-Chi, I was surprised not to receive more offers for leading roles. I suspect that if another actor, someone with a different appearance, had starred in that film, those opportunities would have come much faster and more frequently.

Although Simu Liu has continued to work on projects like Atlas on Netflix and Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. for Disney, as well as doing voice work, The Copenhagen Test marks his first starring role in four years – since the release of Shang-Chi. Liu also discussed the idea that Shang-Chi‘s success was due to the popularity of the Marvel brand, rather than the contributions of the people who made the film.

Although the studio played a role, he pointed out that the movie focused on a brand new character and served as its own introduction to that character’s story. Because of this, Liu believes the film’s success shows how eager audiences are for fresh faces and new ideas. He explained, “In a risky business, this film’s performance should at least make people consider using this character in future projects and see what he can do.” You can read his complete statement below.

I’m not claiming I was the key to the project’s success. While it was a Marvel film, it focused on a relatively unknown character with few connections to the wider universe – it was a standalone origin story. Considering it was released during COVID, when movie theaters had strict seating restrictions, its performance was remarkable. I played a small part, but you’d think someone would consider giving me another opportunity, especially since nothing is guaranteed in this industry. I’m thankful for the work I’ve had, but to be clear, this is my first leading role since Shang-Chi.

Simu Liu shared that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did surprisingly well at the box office, especially considering the challenges of releasing a film during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite cautious predictions, the movie actually performed better than the studio initially expected.

Simu Liu remembered that the film industry’s intense focus on predictions and numbers created doubt around the movie’s release. In fact, studio leaders presented it as a test project, not a sure success. Liu also talked about his position within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying that while Shang-Chi is a significant achievement for him, his future involvement with the franchise isn’t certain.

Honestly, it’s always a surprise when they reach out – I never know when to expect the call, but we always figure things out. I really loved the project we did together, and people still talk about it all the time, which is amazing! I truly believe that when something works in Hollywood, no matter who’s starring, the people in charge usually recognize that and try to make more of it.

The film The Copenhagen Test represents an important turning point in the actor’s career, both artistically and in terms of the types of roles he takes on. This project establishes him as the lead in a high-quality thriller, showing a move away from big-budget franchise films, even though he will return as Shang-Chi in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

The new Peacock series is a thrilling drama starring Liu as Alexander Hale, an intelligence analyst who makes a shocking discovery: someone has hacked his brain. Alongside Melissa Barrera, the show unfolds against a world of surveillance, spying, and cutting-edge technology. Titled The Copenhagen Test, it delves into the risks of using information as a weapon and questions how far intelligence agencies should go.

All eight episodes of The Copenhagen Test will be available on Peacock starting December 27.

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2025-12-23 19:20