Shang-Chi star Simu Liu will be hobnobbing with a DC star! Liu has joined the cast of Barbie, a movie based on the world-famous Mattel fashion doll starring Harley Quinn herself, Margot Robbie.
I’m A Barbie Boy, In a Barbie World
Three-time Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach wrote the script. Gerwig will direct. Robbie will portray Barbie and is also producing this picture via her imprint LuckyChap. (LuckyChap executive Tom Ackerley will also serve as an executive producer.) Ryan Gosling will portray her beau, Ken. America Ferrera is also part of the cast. (I’m guessing she’s Teresa…?).
Production is expected to begin… er, soon. Principle filming will take place at Warner Bros. Leavesden studio in London. Barbie doesn’t have a release date but is expected to arrive in theaters in 2023.
Move Over Ken
Prior to landing the role of Shang-Chi, Liu was best known for playing Jung Kim on the Canadian TV comedy Kim’s Convenience. That program ran for five seasons and gained a large following in the U.S. after it was picked up by Netflix.
Landing the lead role in a Marvel movie was a massive step up for the actor. He went on to host Saturday Night Live which features Bowen Yang as part of the cast. Liu and Yang both appeared on the Comedy Central series Awkwafina is Nora From Queens. (Yang had a recurring role as Nora’s cousin Edmund, while Liu only made one appearance as “Garbage Boy” in the Season 1 episode “Grandma and Chill.”) But of course, Awkwafina became Liu’s costar in Shang-Chi as his BFF Katy.
Liu has wrapped the romantic drama One True Loves, and the inspirational dog movie Arthur the King, which stars Mark Wahlberg.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings set up Liu’s character to be a major part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the years and films to come. So check back for updates as they arrive.
In the meantime, think pink and look forward to the live-action Barbie movie!
