When someone gets a dream role – particularly in a Marvel film – it can be really overwhelming. Just ask Simu Liu, who had a huge response when he found out he was cast in the lead role in Shang-Chi. While speaking with ET Canada, Liu couldn’t help but be emotional when he found out that he landed the role of a lifetime.
“It’s Tuesday night, it’s two nights after I screen-tested in New York,” he explained. “When you’re an actor, the whole audition adage is, ‘Forget about it, leave it at the door, just do your best job and if they call, they call.’ This was not one of those times. Every single second was excruciating, every time my phone buzz my heart skipped. It was a very unhealthy equilibrium state.”
“I waited two days and I had gone online and watched videos of all these other Marvel stars and how they got cast,” continued Liu. “And I think I got it in my mind that Kevin [Feige] likes to call them personally so I thought if my manager calls, it might be bad news but if I get a call from an unknown number, it might be good news.”
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But when the call finally came in, Liu wasn’t expecting it.
“It’s about 6:19 p.m. Tuesday and lo and behold, I’m in my underwear eating shrimp crackers and there’s an unknown number from Burbank, California,” recalled Liu. “Now I know Disney Studios is in Burbank so my heart’s thumping out of my chest and I jump and am like ‘Hello!’ and it’s the divine voice of Kevin Feige. I’ll never forget it, it’s so calm, it’s so booming.”
“‘He’s like ‘Simu, hi. We’d like you to play Shang-Chi,” added Liu. “Also, we need you to go to Comic-Con in four days.’ I can’t describe how I felt. I think I cried hysterically. I can’t remember if it was on the phone or after, but probably a bit of both.”
You can watch the full interview below.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will arrive in theaters on February 12, 2021. What do you think about Liu’s reaction to the news? Let us know in the comment section below!
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