{"id":33384,"date":"2021-09-01T14:12:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T14:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=33384"},"modified":"2021-09-02T13:58:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T13:58:46","slug":"dallas-liu-shang-chi-interview","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/dallas-liu-shang-chi-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Liu Is on His Way to Becoming Hollywood\u2019s Next \u2018Shang-Chi\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dallas
Dallas Liu (Photo: Jonny Marlow)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe<\/a> is back in theaters with one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2021. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings<\/em> is the franchise\u2019s first film to focus on a majority Asian cast and introduces Marvel\u2019s first lead Asian superhero. It\u2019s a major moment for Marvel\u2019s Asian-American fans, who have been craving representation in comic book movies for decades. And it sure doesn\u2019t hurt that critics are praising the film as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt kinda\u2026warming<\/em>,\u201d says Dallas Liu of seeing the film for the first time. Fans of Hulu\u2019s PEN15<\/em> will recognize the 20-year-old as Maya Erskine\u2019s stoner older brother Shuji, but in Shang-Chi<\/em> he plays Ruihua, the younger brother of the hero\u2019s slacker bestie Katy (Awkwafina). Despite his experience playing opposite hilarious women like Erskine and Awkwafina, Liu (no relation to the film\u2019s star Simu<\/a>) hope Shang-Chi <\/em>will be a launch pad for more action fare. And that seems likely. A skilled martial artist in his own right, Liu already has his next major role lined up: as Prince Zuko in Netfix\u2019s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Ahead of Shang-Chi<\/em>\u2019s opening weekend, Liu spoke to GRAZIA about the film\u2019s significance for young Asian fans, growing up on Marvel movies and how martial arts lead him to acting.<\/p>\n

What kind of relationship did you have to Marvel? Were you a fan of these characters growing up? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I was a superfan, just like everyone else watching these movies, absolutely. I love Marvel. I even had a Marvel marathon with some of my friends where we watched all the movies in chronological order. And to be a part of it\u2014it\u2019s like a dream.<\/p>\n

Were there characters that resonated with you particularly?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t say I could relate to the characters, but a character that I really like was Quicksilver from Age of Ultron<\/em>. Yeah, I thought his character in that movie was incredible. I\u2019m also a fan of speedsters, so getting to see him onscreen was awesome. And [Aaron Taylor-Johnson] was incredible as well.<\/p>\n