Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Hits Back At Disney CEO For Calling Movie’s Release Strategy “An Interesting Experiment”: “We Are Not An Experiment”
"We are the underdog; the underestimated," the Marvel star said via social media.
Simu Liu has insisted Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is not an "experiment".
The 32-year-old actor is "fired up" to make history with the movie — which is Marvel's first Asian superhero film — and is excited about what the film can prove as the "underdog" in an apparent response to Disney CEO Bob Chapek's recent remarks about the projects theatrical release.
Following the opening of Free Guy over the weekend, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is one of the first Disney movies to have an exclusive theatrical release during the coronavirus pandemic, though it will be released on Disney+'s Premier Access 45 days after it hits cinemas, which the executive described on Disney's most recent earnings call as an "interesting experiment".
He said: "On Shang-Chi, we think it’s actually going to be an interesting experiment for us, because it’s got only a 45-day window for us.
"So the prospect of being able to take a Marvel title to the [streaming] service after going theatrical at 45 days will be yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles.”
In response, Simu wrote on Twitter, which included a few behind-the-scenes photos, on Saturday (Aug 14): "We are not an experiment.
“We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.
"We are the surprise. I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US.”
He noted: “That title was planned on being in a much more healthy theatrical environment.”
In recent months, Disney's major titles, including Jungle Cruise, Black Widow and Cruella, have been simultaneously released in cinemas and on Disney+ Premier Access.
In Singapore, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will open exclusively in cinemas on Sept 1. No word on how soon it will be made available on Disney+ after its theatrical run. 8days.sg has reached out to Disney+ for comment.
This is not the first time Simu has lost his cool on social media. In June, he lashed out in a now-deleted Facebook post against the cancellation of his Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience and the way the Asian characters were depicted on the show. — BANG SHOWBIZ
Photos; TPG News/Click Photos, Simu Liu/Instagram
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