Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just released, and I can’t wait to watch it a second time. One of the main highlights of the film, as we all expected, was its action sequences. The immaculate martial arts choreography is elevated with stylized shots, editing and I just couldn’t stop playing it all in my head in a loop.
The film explores a new character that has debuted in the MCU and a new legend. That’s right, the legend of the Ten Rings. Honestly, the film has left all of us with more questions than answers. In fact, it seemed like the creators were barely scratching the surface, and something big is about to come that will be of great significance in the larger universe.
One of those questions is the origins of MCU’s Ten Rings. If you’re a comic book fan, you probably know all the Ten Rings stories, myths, and powers by heart. But for movie buffs and fans of the MCU, there’s a lot that needs to be unpacked here.
In the Marvel comics, the Ten Rings are a power source created by Makluans (alien dragons) for their starship. Mandarin finds the Ten Rings in the Valley of Spirits from a crashed Makluan spaceship. The origins of Ten Rings are still a mystery in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Origin Of The Ten Rings In The MCU
The film begins with a legend about the Ten Rings that had so much power that it could be used for the world’s good, but Xu Wenwu, aka the real Mandarin, wanted to use them for power and conquer the world.
The Mandarin gained immortality from these rings besides being great weapons of destruction. He then started the terrorist organization with the same name Ten Rings and ran the world from the shadows.
Now, besides this, not much has been spoken about the Ten Rings in the film. In fact, more than half of this is about the character and not about the rings themselves.
Just like the origin story, even its uses haven’t been explored a lot. The two significant aspects of the ring are that it gives the wielder and wearer immortality and aids them in battles by enhancing their fighting skills. Furthermore, it has enough power to break the gateway behind which the dark being was captured.
However, there’s some hint given to us in the post-credits scenes. Here, Dr. Banner, Captain Marvel, Wong (from Dr. Strange), Shang-Chi, and Katy look at the ring and try to study it.
Wong says that since its usage, the rings are sending some sort of a signal, but they don’t know where. Could this mean that they’re sending signals to its makers or other entities in the universe? Maybe or maybe not. Either way, I think it’ll lead us to know more about the rings’ origins, their uses, and their origins.
Origin Of The Ten Rings In Marvel Comics
In the comics, the Ten Rings are a power source for an alien spaceship that crashed onto our planet. Xu Wenwu, aka The Mandarin, finds this ruined spaceship, and Axon-Karr, an explorer from the planet Maklu IV.
The Ten Rings were developed by the Makluans, who are an alien species of dragons. When the Mandarin found Axon-Karr, he killed Axon-Karr (the Makluan) and stole the rings for himself, which he learned to harness and use to set up the Ten Rings organization.
In the comics, the rings were not armbands but actual rings. Each of these possessed a unique ability such as ice, flame, mind control, electric blasts, etc. The Mandarin learned to harness all these powers, became their master, and thus began the head of the Ten Rings terrorist syndicate.
Will Marvel Take The Comics’ Route For The Ten Rings Origin Story?
First things first. We still don’t have an announcement from Marvel on Shang-Chi 2, but a sequel might make sense because many stories are left unsaid. Second, in the post-credits scene, we see the message “The Ten Rings will return.”
This means whether, in a standalone movie or some other film, we might have an appearance from the infamous organization where more details about the rings can be uncovered.
About the origin story – It is unlikely that Marvel will take the route of comics since even for this film, Marvel picked out elements from comics and weaved a largely original story. Hence there’s a good chance that Marvel will pick parts of the origins of the Ten Rings and write a plot that suits its larger narrative.
About Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten rings is an upcoming American superhero film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is based on the Marvel Comics character Shang-Chi.
Cast members include Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, and Ronny Chieng.
When Shang-Chi is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organization, he is forced to confront the past he thought he left behind. Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie will be a part of its ongoing Phase Four.
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