Shang-Chi: A Shuri Cameo Would've Been Better Than Hulk
A Shuri (Letitia Wright) cameo in the mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would have been a better narrative fit for the MCU than Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). The Legend of the Ten Rings followed the journey of Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) as he confronted his father Wen-Wu (Tony Leung) and saved the magical realm of Ta-Lo using the power of the Ten Rings. While the film was a fresh and original story mostly disconnected from the rest of the MCU, a slew of cameos from Wong (Benedict Wong), Abomination (Tim Roth), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) firmly cemented the film in the shared universe.
The most significant cameos came in the film's mid-credits scene, where Wong called upon Shang-Chi and Katy (Awkwafina) to join him in the Sanctum Sanctorum to discuss the Ten Rings. Bruce Banner and Captain Marvel make their appearances in this scene, where they debate over the origin of the mystical artifacts. The scene leaves audiences with a dire warning of an inter-dimensional threat that is being called to earth by a beacon transmitted from the rings, a tease that is bound to unfurl later on in the MCU.
While Bruce Banner's inclusion in the scene was a pleasant surprise, a cameo by Shuri would have been more cohesive with what was being discussed in the scene. Bruce Banner's comments during the scene were meant to confirm that the rings are not made of Vibranium, an element Shuri is an expert on. This would have also lined up with the grander scheme of the MCU, since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to 2018's Black Panther, releases this November.
Throughout Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Shuri showcased her level of expertise with Vibranium, and the fact that she is Wakanda's lead scientist proves that she has more knowledge on the matter than anyone else. Therefore, she should have been the one to clarify that the Ten Rings are not made of Vibranium, rather than having Banner do it. This would have also set her up as a member of the Avengers, a role she is likely to take in Wakanda Forever.
A Black Panther cameo was potentially considered at one point for Shang-Chi, prior to the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman. However, not unlike the source material, Shuri could have filled in for T'Challa and appeared alongside Captain Marvel, indicating that she has taken the mantle of Wakanda's protector. This would have also mirrored the animated series Avengers Assemble, in which Black Panther and Captain Marvel lead the New Avengers, a group that is very likely to be one of the teams being set up in Phase 4 of the MCU.
Ultimately, Bruce Banner's inclusion felt like a substitute for what would have been T'Challa, but he was not the best candidate to fill that role. Nonetheless, the mid-credits scene served its two-fold purpose, warning the Avengers of the impending threat, and inducting Shang-Chi into the Avengers. Despite her absence in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Shuri is sure to take center stage in this year's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
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