It’s now been five years since Marvel Studios introduced Simu Liu’s titular hero in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and fans are still waiting for his long-awaited sequel. Although his confirmed appearance in Avengers: Doomsday is very exciting, it likely won’t make up for the fact that Shang-Chi has gone without his next chapter for far too long in the MCU. While one would hope that director Destin Daniel Cretton would return for Shang-Chi 2, which is supposedly in development, it may be easier said than done.
Since 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Destin Daniel Cretton has become one of Marvel’s most trusted filmmakers, originally tasked with directing the fifth Avengers movie before major pivots were made, and he directed this year’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day instead. Largely seen as one of the best Spider-Man movies and MCU movies in general, Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s massive success may actually be a problem regarding Cretton directing Shang-Chi 2.
That said, in light of his increasingly busy directing schedule, I do think there’s a solid path forward to ensure that both Shang-Chi and Spider-Man’s next chapters in teh MCU come from Destin Daniel Cretton (sooner rather than later).
Destin Daniel Cretton’s Schedule Is Very Busy After Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Photo by Jay Maidment
Even as Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to rake in billions, Destin Daniel Cretton already has his sights on his next project with his live-action Naruto movie, which is reportedly aiming for a 2028 release date at the earliest. Keeping that in mind, Cretton then moving on to direct either Shang-Chi 2 or Spider-Man 5 would likely push either movie to 2030 or beyond, with the other being pushed back even further than that.
Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Trivia
🏠Homecoming2017
✈️Far From Home2019
🌌No Way Home2021
😈VillainsSinister…
🤖MCUAvengers
01
Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?
✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.
02
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.
✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.
03
Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?
✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.
04
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?
✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.
05
In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?
✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.
06
With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?
✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.
07
Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?
✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”
08
At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?
✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.
Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating
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Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander?
There’s no way Sony Pictures will want to wait that long for Tom Holland’s next Spider-Man movie, though Marvel Studios has already left Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi hanging for five years. As such, I do think it’d be pretty awesome if Destin Daniel Cretton didn’t have to choose, with Marvel Studios and Sony greenlighting a means to solve both of their problems at once.
A Spider-Man & Shang-Chi Team Up Movie Would Allow DDC To Keep Directing Both Heroes
Simu Liu as Shang-Chi and Tom Holland as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man in the MCUCustom Image by Kai Young
Let’s imagine a major Spider-Man and Shang-Chi crossover featuring Tom Holland and Simu Liu as co-leads. While it could technically remain the fifth Spider-Man movie to maintain the momentum of Brand New Day, Shang-Chi’s ongoing development and story would have to be just as integral.
As such, this would arguably allow Cretton to continue shaping both MCU heroes after the live-action Naruto, rather than one of them having to wait far too long. There’s plenty of precedent, as 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine absolutely proves the potential for a two-hander team-up film. Not only does it seem like Holland and Liu would have great chemistry, but Spider-Man and Shang-Chi are also solid allies in the comics. They even once worked together to develop the “Way of the Spider”, a unique martial arts style complementing Peter’s unique abilities, making up for his temporary lack of spider-sense.
Likewise, Spider-Man’s acrobatics and Shang-Chi’s fighting skills and powerful rings would no doubt create some of the MCU’s most entertaining action sequences. After all, both 2021’s Shang-Chi and 2026’s Brand New Day have some of the best fighting choreography in the entire MCU. There are also plenty of existing reasons for Peter and Shang-Chi to potentially join forces, like taking on The Hand, perhaps even the ninja clan unleashing their dark deity known as The Beast.
When all is said and done, it seems clear that a Spider-Man/Shang-Chi crossover movie in the MCU could theoretically solve several problems at once: Sony gets another Spider-Man movie sooner, Marvel finally advances Shang-Chi’s story, and Cretton gets to continue working with both characters. Everybody wins.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.
