Xu Wenwu is a fictional character portrayed by Tony Leung in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise, a composite character based on the Marvel Comics characters the Mandarin and Fu Manchu but lacking the historically negative Yellow Peril stereotypes associated with these characters.
18 Facts About Wenwu
2.
At Marvel Studios' San Diego Comic-Con panel in July 2019, Kevin Feige revealed that the Mandarin would make his official debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Tony Leung cast in the role; the character's real name "Wenwu" was revealed by Feige during Disney Investor Day in December 2019.
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Wenwu is an original character for the Marvel Cinematic Universe who replaces Shang-Chi's original comic book father whom Marvel Studios does not hold the film rights to, serving as a composite character of Fu Manchu and the Mandarin.
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Leung described Wenwu as "a sociopath, a narcissist, a bigot" but refused to call him a villain, explaining that he was "a man with a history, who craves to be loved".
5.
Wenwu says that he was called "Master Khan", a pseudonym used in the main continuity.
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Thousands of years ago, Xu Wenwu finds the Ten Rings, mystical weapons that grant their user immortality and great power.
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In 1996, Wenwu begins searching for Ta Lo, a village said to harbor various mythical beasts, in order to expand his power.
8.
Wenwu finds the entrance of the village, but is stopped and defeated by the village's guardian Ying Li.
9.
Content with his new life, Wenwu gives up the ten rings and renounces his criminal lifestyle to be with his family.
10.
When Li is murdered by the Iron Gang, old rivals of the Ten Rings, Wenwu takes up his rings and takes Shang-Chi with him to the Iron Gang's hideout, where he proceeds to brutally massacre the gangsters.
11.
When Shang-Chi is 14, Wenwu sends him on a mission to kill the Iron Gang's leader and avenge Li.
12.
However, Wenwu becomes amused by Slattery's performances and has him imprisoned in his compound as a "court jester".
13.
Wenwu begins hearing Li's voice, telling him she is trapped in Ta Lo.
14.
Wenwu sends his men to take the pendants Li had gifted his children Shang-Chi and Xialing.
15.
When that mission was a success, Wenwu sends his men to take Xialing's pendant at her fight club in Macau which leads to a resulting brawl between Shang-Chi and Xialing against the Ten Rings operatives led by Razor Fist and Death Dealer.
16.
Wenwu reveals his plans to destroy the village after freeing Li and imprisons his children and Katy when they refuse to go through with his plan.
17.
Shang-Chi attempts to fight Wenwu, but is defeated and cast down into a lake.
18.
Unbeknownst to him, Wenwu is being manipulated by the Dweller-in-Darkness, who was using Li's voice to trick Wenwu into destroying its seal with his ten rings.