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As the title hero of Marvel‘s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Simu Liu has become a superstar overnight. That 2021 film was a hit with critics and audiences alike. So naturally the newest potential Avenger is making the rounds. Liu recently hosted Saturday Night Live, and now he’s made another notable guest appearance, during which he dropped an opinion sure to surprise more than a few Star Wars fans.

Simu Liu attends the Toronto premiere of 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'
Simu Liu attends the Toronto premiere of ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ | Ryan Emberley

Simu Liu headlined Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

Prior to his role as Shang-Chi, Liu made a ton of guest appearances on television. He made his acting debut in 2012 on an episode of Nikita, according to IMDb. But it wasn’t until his role as Jung on Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience that he gained more widespread exposure. From 2016 to 2021, Liu starred on that show. Its series finale, in fact, dovetailed neatly with his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a few months later.

Liu’s casting remarkably followed his very public desire to play Shang-Chi. Now it seems he’s destined to play an integral role in the MCU’s future. The mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings places the hero in the larger world of the MCU. And Deadline reported that a sequel and spinoff TV series are already in the works.

The Marvel star just voiced a controversial ‘Star Wars’ opinion

Now a bonafide MCU standout, Liu recently popped up on the popular First We Feast web series Hot Ones. And amidst bites of some spicy wings, the actor answered some even hotter questions. At one point, host Sean Evans asked Liu about his favorite Jedi in the Star Wars universe. And he made a surprising choice.

“It’s got to be Qui-Gon Jinn. …I just love that Qui-Gon is a bit of a maverick. He doesn’t care. He’s like, ‘Sorry I’m gonna train this kid.’ And ultimately that kid is gonna grow up to become Darth Vader and overthrow the entire Republic. But still you’ve got to admire the guy that can see through the hypocrisy of the Jedi Order. They think they’re the good guys. They’re like, ‘Oh yeah we’re so good.’ But really they’re the instruments of their own demise in a way.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Rey, and Luke Skywalker all shockingly lost out to the Jedi Knight Liam Neeson played in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Of course, the Star Wars community is used to controversial takes by now. But Liu’s still feels like it comes out of nowhere, considering how largely under-recognized Qui-Gon Jinn is.

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Before Simu Liu Became ‘Shang-Chi,’ He Was in a Middle School Boy Band and University of Western Ontario’s Hip-hop Dance Team

Simu Liu could find his way into the ‘Star Wars’ universe

With Liu’s intense Star Wars fandom, some fans might wonder whether the Shang-Chi star could pop up in the “galaxy far, far away.” After all, both Marvel and Star Wars are under Disney’s ownership. And numerous stars have already crossed over in some form. Besides, Liu’s action chops in the MCU would make him a cool addition.

As it turns out, Liu has already made his first step into the larger Star Wars world. The actor provided the English-language voice of a character named Lah Zhima in an episode of the animated Disney+ series Star Wars Visions. Is this an introduction into perhaps a larger role in that franchise? Fans will now doubt be watching to find out.

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