Shang-Chi's Simu Liu Explains Brutal Marvel Exercise Regimen

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Simu Liu, star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, detailed his exercise regimen for the upcoming MCU film and it sounds brutal. The Chinese-Canadian actor was cast in the role of Shang-Chi in 2019, making him the first Asian superhero in the Marvel franchise. Shang-Chi has faced a slew of delays on its way to theaters, first set to be released on February 12, 2021, the first day of the Chinese New Year. COVID-related schedule changes forced the film to shift to May and then July before finally landing on a September debut.

Liu's excitement for Shang-Chi is clear - the actor has consistently talked about how emotional the experience of shooting the film was for him. The actor described the first time he tried on his superhero suit, nearly crying in the process. When the Shang-Chi trailer finally hit the internet on Liu's birthday, the actor took to Twitter to express his surprise and excitement at the clip. Dreams aren't realized without hard work, though, and Liu has put in plenty.

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In a new profile from Men's Health, Liu detailed his workout regimen, revealing that he added ten pounds of muscle over the course of his training. Liu would workout three times a day during the shoot in Australia last summer, lifting weights and working through fight choreography. The actor would also stretch his body to its limits in an effort to acclimate himself to the flexibility required by Kung-Fu. It is reported that Liu could barely walk after these sessions, but continued to pour in the work regardless.

Liu already showed off his fighting skills in a video he posted to social media late last year, but nothing can compare to what Shang-Chi has in store. For the movie's action, director Destin Daniel Cretton drew inspiration from everything from the wushu fighting style seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to the more "kinetic" fighting seen in modern action movies. All of this will make for one of the most unique and exciting Marvel movies in some time, breaking from the traditional superhero mold for something much different.

Shang-Chi will release in theaters after July's Black Widow, a movie that seems more in line with the traditional Marvel format. Coupled with Eternals, though, Shang-Chi will bring action unseen before in the MCU and much of that is likely thanks, in part, to Liu's dedication to the role. Although Liu has made appearances in several popular television shows, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings could be a different kind of breakthrough for the actor, opening the door to a new franchise in the MCU and beyond.