Simu Liu: Marvel Keeps Secrets Due to Holland and Ruffalo's Leaks

It’s official: Shang-Chi is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During the blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday livestream, it was revealed that Simu Liu would reprise his role as Shang-Chi in the eagerly awaited ensemble film. However, due to Marvel Studios' notorious secrecy around spoilers, Liu remained tight-lipped about his involvement, only casually noting his name on a chair alongside other MCU luminaries.

Last month’s Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement was a major nod to veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all set to appear, solidifying the X-Men's significant presence in the film. Grammer, who played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in the post-credits scene of The Marvels. Stewart portrayed Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films and had a brief appearance in the MCU's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, known for his role as Magneto, has yet to make his MCU debut, as have Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops). This raises the intriguing question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

"I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity," Liu shared during a recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. "But I didn't know who else they were announcing. They don't tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don't tell us."

Liu is referencing the well-known leaks from Holland about the MCU’s Spider-Man series and Ruffalo’s habit of revealing plot points related to the Avengers. Since these incidents, Marvel has tightened its grip on information, ensuring that spoilers remain under wraps from all cast members, both new and old.

The actor, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, was astounded to see some of the names announced alongside him. "I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced," he said during the interview. "These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit."

Liu first donned the role of Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, and fans have been eagerly awaiting his return. With the film's release date set for May 1, 2026, and the impressive lineup of actors now confirmed, Avengers: Doomsday remains shrouded in mystery. But rest assured, more details will likely emerge within the next year, spoilers or not.

Meanwhile, MCU enthusiasts are also buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.’s recent Doctor Doom-themed invitation for his 60th birthday party, sparking further speculation and excitement among fans.