Shang-Chi Reportedly Casting Several Marvel Secret Agents
by Mike BloomMarvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will reportedly introduce several comic characters from MI-6.
Though production has not yet begun, casting news has been leaked for three characters who made their debut in the Master of Kung-Fu comics. Murphy's Multiverse reports the film will introduce Leiko Wu, Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trio are agents of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service. They worked heavily with Shang-Chi in the comics, as he went on a series of missions to thwart his father Fu Manchu's plans for world domination.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Clive Reston first appeared in 1974's Giant-Size Master of Kung-Fu #3 by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy. He was modeled after James Bond, as well as the character Roper from the film Enter the Dragon. Bond was initially intended to be his father, with Sherlock Holmes as his great-uncle, but that family tree was cut down due to copyright. He made many appearances throughout Master of Kung-Fu, serving as Shang-Chi's wisecracking sidekick. He had several partners throughout the comics, including Leiko Wu and Melissa Greville. In the film, Reston will reportedly be Shang-Chi's former partner and friend.
Leiko Wu debuted in 1975's Master of Kung-Fu #33, also by Moench and Gulacy. She entered a relationship with Clive Reston quickly after joining MI-6, only to eventually leave him for Simon Bretner, who would become the villain Mordillo. Despite the breakup, she still worked alongside Reston, as well as Shang-Chi. She developed feelings for the Master of Kung-Fu, causing an awkward love triangle. She eventually left Shang-Chi as well, falling in love with triad sect leader Skull-Crusher and leaving MI-6. Her association with Skull-Crusher eventually resulted in her murder by a rival leader, but a ritual resurrected her with new powers. Legend of the Ten Rings will see Wu back together with Reston, even after she held a candle for Shang-Chi for some time.
Black Jack Tarr first appeared in 1973's Marvel Special Edition #15 by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. A big man with a gruff manner, he was an army vet turned member of the British Foreign Service before joining MI-6. He was eventually assigned to the command of Sir Denis Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard, Fu Manchu's arch rival. It was here he encountered Reston, Wu and Shang-Chi, eventually fighting alongside them for several missions. Tarr joined and became the leader of a group of private adventurers called the Freelance Restorations before eventually returning to MI-6. His last comics appearance saw him promoted to the director of MI-6 and using Shang-Chi's return to track down Wu's murderers. The casting notice describes Tarr as an "elite martial artist who enjoys the thrill of the battle."
The casting notices called for a Caucasian man, aged 45-50, for Reston; a Chinese woman, aged 26-39, for Wu; and a Caucasian man, aged 30-49, for Tarr. The breakdown seems to suggest Shang-Chi takes place long after the titular character's partnership with MI-6.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings arrives in theaters on Feb. 12, 2021. Production on the film is set to begin later this year in Australia.
https://schema.orgBreadcrumbListListItem1Homehttps://www.cbr.com/ListItem2Movieshttps://www.cbr.com/category/movies/ListItem3Movie Newshttps://www.cbr.com/category/movies/news-movies/ListItem4Shang-Chi Reportedly Casting Several Marvel Secret Agentshttps://www.cbr.com/shang-chi-film-leiko-wu-clive-reston-and-black-jack-tarr/