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. The highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday livestream confirmed that Simu Liu will reprise his role in the upcoming ensemble film. However, due to Marvel Studios' stringent policy on spoilers, Liu remained tight-lipped about his involvement, even as his name was displayed alongside other MCU luminaries.

Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was dominated by veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all confirmed to appear, solidifying the X-Men's significant presence in the film. Grammer, known for portraying Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart, who played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films, had a brief appearance in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member 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 an intriguing question: could Avengers: Doomsday be a covert Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

"I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity," Liu shared on the Jennifer Hudson Show, discussing his role in the film. "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 comments allude to the well-known leaks from Holland about the MCU's Spider-Man series and Ruffalo's tendency to reveal plot points about the Avengers. Since these incidents became news sensations, Marvel has tightened its security, keeping spoilers under wraps not just from Holland and Ruffalo, but from all cast members, both new and returning.

Liu, who also starred as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig's Barbie, expressed his astonishment at some of the other names announced for Avengers: Doomsday. "I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced," he remarked 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."

The biggest surprise cast member revealed for Avengers: Doomsday remains a topic of debate among fans. The list of potential surprises includes 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), and others.

Liu first portrayed Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021. Despite his absence from the screen since then, fans eagerly await his return. Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release on May 1, 2026, remains shrouded in mystery, but more details are expected to emerge in the coming year, whether through official channels or inevitable leaks.

In other MCU news, fans have been buzzing about Robert Downey Jr.'s recent Doctor Doom-themed invitation for his 60th birthday party, sparking speculation about the actor's hair and potential future roles.