Awkwafina Talks 'Nora From Queens' and 'Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' (Exclusive)

Defying what has historically been a slow end-of-summer frame at the box office, Disney/Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” smashed records over the Labor Day weekend by grossing an estimated $71.4 million over the three-day frame and a Disney-projected $83.5 million through Monday from 4,300 locations.

That’s because he’s been the only archer in the MCU — though not for long, as his Disney+ show will introduce Kate Bishop in November, played on-screen by Hailee Steinfeld. So, just going based on what we know — the person who trained her how to use a bow died in the battle at Ta-Lo and now she’s in the market for a new teacher — — it would make sense for Katy to show up in “Hawkeye” too.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” kicked off its box office in Thursday night previews by making $8.8 million from screenings beginning at 6 p.m.

, Marvel's new joint ushering the Master of Kung Fu from the comics into the MCU: Of the months of training star Simu Liu took on to master those martial arts and look the part of a Marvel superhero. Of the long weeks spent shooting even one of the set pieces, with much of the stunt work done by the cast themselves.

Black Panther,” is based on a comic book most moviegoers barely knew anything about when they first walked into the theater. Didn’t matter.

Awkwafina in your project, you know you're going to come out on the other end with a happy bestie-ship between her character and someone else. In, that someone is Shang-Chi himself, with Awkwafina as his best friend, faithful fellow slacker and would-be hero, Katy.«Aww, man.

Asian and Pacific Islander non-profit collective Gold House announced the launch of a Gold Open for Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” in partnership with GoFundMe.Gold House’s Gold Open premieres, launched in partnership with CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) are an initiative that aims to drive box office success for films led by Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Gold House will bring the momentum of its #GoldOpen campaigns to Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The nonprofit collective of Asian & Pacific Islanders will team up with CAPE and GoFundMe to launch its #GoldOpen events in Los Angeles and New York City, to further bolster support for the Simu Liu-led action film.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (★★★☆☆), the first Marvel entry to feature a predominantly Asian cast. Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy), the film expands the franchise mythology, while leaping feet-first into its own style of wuxia action superhero fantasy steeped in Chinese culture.The plot still relies on the regular go-to of a villain coveting magical talismans — in this case, the titular ten legendary rings.

In many ways, “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings” is a remix of previous Marvel Studios films that’s a little more pronounced than most films that play with superhero archetypes.

wuxia storytelling.We meet Shang-Chi (Liu), hiding in San Francisco as a hotel valet under the name Shaun, an obfuscation his best friend Katy (Awkwafina) later rightfully points out is a lazy way to keep a low profile when his father Wenwu (Leung) is a thousand-year-old warrior with super-powered bracelets, endless resources, and foot soldiers around the globe working for his organization, the Ten Rings.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticShang-who? The most obscure Marvel Cinematic Universe character to get his own stand-alone movie to date, the comic book mega-company’s “Master of Kung Fu” may not be a household name (not yet, at least), but you wouldn’t know that from “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” a flashy, Asian-led visual effects extravaganza that gives the second-tier hero the same over-the-top treatment that big-timers like Hulk and Thor typically get.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.The character was Shang-Chi’s father in the comic book version of the story, but has widely been derided as racist and a symbol of the Yellow Peril stereotype.In an interview with Chinese film critic Raymond Zhou at the film’s premiere this week, Feige spoke out about Fu Manchu not being included in the movie.

EXCLUSIVE: Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens returned to Comedy Central for Season 2, scoring a 0.31 rating in the 18-49 demo, per Nielsen; L+SD.

Awkwafina is doing something different in her new Marvel movie, . The actress and comedian covers the September issue of , where she shares how her role in the action-adventure film differs from her usual «funny best friend» roles.«Dangling off of things and flying, falling backward…it’s really different from, say, an indie rom-com.