‘Shang-Chi’ star Simu Liu fires back film director Quentin Tarantino for belittling Marvel movies

Simu Liu, a 33-year-old Chinese-born Canadian actor who has starred in movies like Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, made a comment on Twitter about Quentin Tarantino’s unpopular opinion about Marvel movies.

The American film director Quentin Tarantino had previously mentioned in a podcast that he did not love Marvel movies. He added that he would be “happy and totally love” these kinds of films back when he was still in his 20s. To add fuel to fire, the 59-year-old director exclaimed that the actors who portray such characters in some Marvel movies were not entirely movie stars – as their fame only flourished because of the film. “..they’re not movie stars. Captain America is the star, or Thor is the star” said Quentin Tarantino.

More so, Tarantino added that all these movies embody the feel of theme parks – these kinds of films do not exhibit the cinema where people encounter emotional and psychological experiences with other human beings.

In his Twitter post, Liu defended his job as an actor and expressed his honest opinion about the issue at hand. With all these unfortunate commentaries, Simu Liu declared: “If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie.” 

If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie.

I am in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent auteurs. But they don’t get to point their nose at me or anyone.

— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) November 22, 2022

The actor stated that he is “in awe of their filmmaking genius”, and that these people are “transcendent auteurs.” Even so, it should not give them the right to belittle him or any actors involved in the movies.

“No movie studio is or ever will be perfect. But I’m proud to work with one that has made sustained efforts to improve diversity onscreen by creating heroes that empower and inspire people of all communities everywhere,” the 33-year-old added. 

Simu Liu then admitted that he loved the ‘Golden Age’ as well, echoing the comment Tarantino when he said he would enjoy Marvel movies in his 20s, but left a strong statement that “it was white as hell”.

No movie studio is or ever will be perfect. But I’m proud to work with one that has made sustained efforts to improve diversity onscreen by creating heroes that empower and inspire people of all communities everywhere.

I loved the “Golden Age” too.. but it was white as hell.

— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) November 22, 2022