Simu Liu: Marvel Keeps Cast in Dark Due to Holland and Ruffalo's Spoilers

It's official: Shang-Chi is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers: Doomsday livestream event unveiled that Simu Liu will reprise his role in the upcoming ensemble blockbuster. However, due to Marvel Studios' stringent policy on spoilers, Liu remained tight-lipped, only revealing that his name would appear alongside other MCU legends on a chair.

Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement highlighted several veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all confirmed to join the film, signaling a significant presence of the X-Men. Grammer, who played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart portrayed Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films and made a cameo in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati. McKellen, famous for his role as Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU, 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 his 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's reference points to the notorious leaks by Holland about the MCU's Spider-Man series and Ruffalo's habit of spilling plot details about the Avengers. Since these incidents, Marvel has tightened its grip on spoilers, keeping even the smallest details from both new and veteran cast members.

Liu, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, was astounded to see some of the names announced alongside his own. "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."

Who was the biggest surprise cast member revealed for Avengers: Doomsday?

• Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Namor)
• Kelsey Grammer (Beast)
• David Harbour (Red Guardian)
• Ian McKellen (Magneto)
• Lewis Pullman (Sentry)
• Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler)
• Rebecca Romijn (Mystique)
• Channing Tatum (Gambit)
• Other

Liu first appeared as Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, but has yet to see the character return to the screen until now. With the release date set for May 1, 2026, and a diverse cast list, Avengers: Doomsday remains largely a mystery. However, fans can expect more details to emerge over the next year, spoilers or otherwise.

Meanwhile, MCU enthusiasts have also been buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.'s recent Doctor Doom-themed invitation for his 60th birthday party, sparking further speculation and excitement within the community.