‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Will Restore Faith in Superhero Movies and the MCU According to Simu Liu [Exclusive]

Simu Liu is finally, officially back in the Marvel fold — and he couldn’t be happier about it. Sitting down with Collider’s Steve Weintraub for In Your Dreams, the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star reflected on his long-awaited return in Avengers: Doomsday and why the experience reawakened his love for the superhero genre. When asked how he found out he’d be joining Avengers: Doomsday, Liu admitted it was a surreal moment that brought him back to the reason he fell in love with heroes in the first place:

“It’s pretty much what you think. I don’t want to put words out that will be turned into their own sound bites, but I think it was just an incredibly exciting feeling to know that you were coming back and then also to get to work with so many incredible people whose body of work I either grew up watching or I greatly, greatly admire. Getting to see them all put on tights and spandex and to play in this beautiful sandbox felt like a love letter to superhero movies in general.”

Liu added that he felt the message of superheroes had almost been lost and needed to be rediscovered by viewers, who had forgotten what made them so important in the first place: helping make everyone feel part of a story, and that they could be their own hero within that story.

“I know the world has gotten pretty cynical on those lately, but I think it’s really important to know where superheroes started and where these comic books started,” said Liu. “They were such an inspiration for the outcasts and the weirdos and the nerds. They were so successful because they really spoke to this idea that no matter who you are, no matter where you came from, you could find heroism within you, and I think that’s what really made the comic books resonate with me when I was younger, and, for better or for worse, I think it’s why I still love the movies.”

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Will Make Fans Fall in Love With Superheroes Again

Liu’s reflection touches on something Marvel itself seems to be wrestling with — how to reignite the heart of superhero storytelling at a time when audiences are more skeptical than ever, and even bored of superheroes. For Liu, though, being on set was a full-circle moment, one that reminded him why those stories mattered in the first place as one of those outcasts, weirdos and nerds. When asked what that first day on the Doomsday set was like, Liu couldn’t help but laugh about the sheer scale of it all.

“I have to be careful not to give too much away. I think it’s fair to say that we had a couple of days where base camp was full, and you’re seeing, like, 20, 30 people on set at the same time. It’s really overwhelming. I mean, talk about imposter syndrome, as well, for me. It was definitely a lot to take in, but then people start talking, and you start working. Inevitably, you have these moments of downtime in between takes, and I feel like that’s when real connections sometimes happen. Sometimes not, but sometimes it’s just a conversation or something that leads to something. Then, before you know it, it’s like you’re friends, and that, I feel like, easily is the most meaningful part of the process for me.”

It’s a great answer, and it’s totally fitting for someone who’s quickly become one of Marvel’s most relatable and beloved stars. While Liu didn’t reveal specifics about Shang-Chi’s role in Avengers: Doomsday — lord knows, the Marvel snipers don’t tend to miss often when stars do slip up — his comments are definitely hinting that the film will be for the fans first.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026.