Simu Liu got some great advice from Tom Hiddleston (Picture: Getty)

Tom Hiddleston had some beautiful words of advice for Simu Liu on playing Marvel’s first Asian superhero.

Simu, who is set to portray Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been a ‘massive Loki fan’ for years.

And when the 30-year-old bumped into Tom in a lift at San Diego Comic-Con in July, he was ready for all sorts of golden nuggets of wisdom on becoming Marvel’s Master of Kung-Fu.

Recalling their meeting, Simu told Bay Street Bull magazine‘s fall issue that he told Tom he was a ‘huge fan’.


Awkwardly, Tom didn’t actually know who Simu was but when he learned that the actor would be entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, their love blossomed.

Tom told him to be ‘unapologetic’ in his role as Shang-Chi (Picture: Rex Features)

Simu said: ‘He told me, “Don’t be afraid to put yourself into the role. Don’t be afraid to contribute your ideas and your thoughts because the wrong thing to do in this situation would be to show up to work and ask other people what is required of you.”‘



Tom, who is set to star in Disney Plus’ Loki series, added: ‘If I want anything for you, it would be to charge head-first into this and not be afraid to commit, pitch ideas, and be totally unapologetic in doing so”.’

Wow. If the whole acting thing doesn’t work out, Hiddleston could have a solid career in motivational speaking.

Simu seemed to agree, saying: ‘I found that so useful. I’ve been living by those words ever since.’

I have stared into Tom Hiddleston’s eyes and forgotten how to form sounds with my mouth. — Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) July 21, 2019

Shang-Chi will be the first Asian-led superhero film – introduced in 1973, the character will bring an injection of martial arts into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Whispers are it’ll be part of Phase Four, as Avengers 4 closes out the third, alongside Black Widow and The Eternals.

Destin Daniel Cretton will direct the film, with Dave Callaham writing the script, and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung taking on the role of the Mandarin.

In the comics, the hero is the son of a China-based globalist, closed off to the outside world and raised a recluse.

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