Shang-Chi gets his cloning powers in new MCU concept art for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, teasing they could be added in the future.
New concept art reveals Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings almost gave Shang-Chi his missing cloning powers from the comics. Simu Liu joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe a few years ago to help bring the Master of Kung Fu to the big screen. It did not take long for audiences to come to love Shang-Chi, as viewers followed his journey to become the wielder of the Ten Rings in his solo movie. Shang-Chi managed to make Simu Liu’s character incredibly powerful thanks to the addition of these weapons, which combined with his fighting skills to make him a formidable superhero in the MCU.
It has now been revealed that Shang-Chi could have been even more powerful in the Phase 4 solo movie, as new Shang-Chi concept art from The Art of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (via Shang-Chi Brasil) teases his cloning powers that were missing from the MCU film.
Featured in the recently released concept art book from Marvel Studios, the illustrations are done by Director of Visual Development Andy Park and show various ways Shang-Chi could use the Ten Rings. The second half of the images show Shang-Chi’s cloning or duplication powers manifesting. It appears the idea was for the Ten Rings to help create the Shang-Chi clones. The book does not reveal if Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ever planned on including this missing power or if it is an example of Andy Park experimenting with different ideas early in development.
Shang-Chi’s Cloning Powers Would Make Him Even More Powerful
Shang-Chi’s powers do not always include cloning in the comics, which could be a reason why the movie did not include them. He originally was able to begin duplicating himself in the source material after exposure to radiation, but he eventually lost the power. Shang-Chi‘s concept art teases a very different explanation for the abilities should they have been included. It appears each of the Ten Rings would have been used to create a Shang-Chi clone, limiting the number of duplicates to nine – assuming the original Shang-Chi still needed to wear one.
Even though Shang-Chi did not utilize this missing comic power, the potential addition of this ability to Shang-Chi’s powers would make him even more powerful in the grand scheme of the MCU. The Ten Rings alone have given Simu Liu’s character immense power, and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law might have made Shang-Chi a god. Adding duplication abilities to his power set would be another advantage for the Master of Kung Fu as his MCU story continues.
Marvel Studios could make Shang-Chi’s cloning powers a reality in Phase 6 too. Simu Liu is expected to return in Shang-Chi 2 at some point, but Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is also likely to feature his hero. Since the MCU has a tendency of making heroes even more powerful with each appearance, especially in their solo franchises, Shang-Chi could unlock these cloning abilities in his sequel to help show his evolution since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Source: The Art of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings [via Shang-Chi Brasil]