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"Shang-Chi" Star Simu Liu Seeks to Challenge Stereotypes

Simu Liu
www.gannett-cdn.com USA Today DYAN JONG

Shang Chi': Simu Liu refuses to 'just toe the line' as Marvel rookie

In an interview this week with The Hollywood Reporter Simu Liu, who plays kung fu master/superhero Shang-Chi in the latest Marvel blockbuster film, said he wants to challenge people's expectations by moving away from playing martial artists in his movies. His next film will see him portraying a romantic leading man - sans martial arts - in the movie "One True Loves."

While Liu said he celebrates Asian martial arts actors like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee, he himself is not a martial arts master but someone who merely trained hard to portray one on film. He added that the most avant-garde thing he can do as an Asian actor is to simply play human beings with no martial arts, accents or stereotypes involved. Liu is slated to host the NBC sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" on November 20.

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