Are you ready for Shang-Chi? Are you sure? Everyone is eager to see the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi is a standalone story that tells its origin story. There are some bits of MCU history that you can revisit before the film. This will make it even more enjoyable. They all revolve around the Mandarin character and the terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. If you are a fan of Shang-Chi, then you may want to re-watch these Marvel projects before you see him.
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You were fooled! You thought I was going say Iron Man, I bet! But I'm not. Ant-Man has nothing to do with the Ten Rings, but some of the bad guys who hang around Pym Technologies have the Ten Rings tattoos. This is an early indicator of the organization's pervasiveness.
Iron Man 3
This is Shang-Chi prep's main course. The original Iron Man film has some Ten Rings visuals (mainly when Tony is captured at the beginning), but this is where we meet the Mandarin, the group leader. It's sort of. Ben Kingsley plays him, but it is revealed that he is a mere actor. Guy Pierce's character Aldrich Kilnie is actually the one behind the fake Mandarins. This plays a small part in Shang Chi, though.
All Hail the King
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This Marvel One Shot, which is now available on Disney+ (hmm... hoooo oddly convenient), is a short film that was originally released on the Thor: The Dark World Bluray. The story follows a journalist as he visits prison to interview Trevor Slattery (real name of Ben Kingsleys character) who is acting as if he were the Mandarin. The real Mandarin wants to meet him, it turns out. Fans have wondered for seven years if there was a real Mandarin. You might be able to meet him in Shang Chi.
Marvel Studios Legends
On September 1, Disney+ will add an episode of Marvel Studios Legends to its streaming service. This is basically an explainer series. The episode will focus on the Ten Rings.
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Disney+ has all the Marvel Studios Legends, Ant-Man and Iron Man 3 available. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be in theaters only September 3.
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