There have been many advancements that have eased the ability of filmmakers to do what they do best. Technology has simplified the process to such an extend that we’ve seen entire, award-winning films shot on a simple IPhone. But there’s one thing any film, especially a major studio production, still needs and that’s a director. Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is dealing with the possibility of losing its director, Destin Daniel Cretton, over…you guessed it, the coronavirus.
Cretton has self-quarantined, suspending production on Shang-Chi, while he undergoes testing for COVID-19. The message sent to the movie’s crew talks about Cretton’s cautious approach to the virus, driven by the birth of his newborn child and the recommendation of his doctor.
While the production of a Marvel movie sucks for us fans, it’s important to put real life ahead of such things. Cretton is doing what’s best for his family, and for the safety of the people working on Shang-Chi. Now, if the movie’s release date gets pushed back, and the same happens to the May release of Black Widow, we could see quite a reshuffling of MCU decks.
For now, Shang-Chi is set to open on February 12th 2021, so quite a ways off. Below you can find the full statement:
“As many of you know, Destin, our director, has a new born baby. He wanted to exercise additional caution given the current environment and decided to get tested for Covid-19 today. He is currently self-isolating under the recommendation of his doctor. While he waits for the results of the test, we are suspending 1st unit production in an abundance of caution until he gets the results this coming week. Second unit and off production will continue as normal. We will reach out to everyone by Tuesday for the latest update.”
“This is an unprecedented time. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work through this.”