Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu Won’t Get A-List Roles Because He’s Not ‘White’

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Simu Liu starred as Shang-Chi in Marvel’s hit movie, becoming part of one of the biggest film franchises ever. However, he says this success hasn’t opened many doors for him as a leading actor in Hollywood. In a recent interview, Liu explained that he believes his ethnicity is the main reason he hasn’t received more opportunities.

Simu Liu says a ‘white’ actor would’ve landed better roles if they did Shang-Chi

The actor, who was born in China and is promoting his new series, ‘The Copenhagen Test,’ recently shared that he believes his race has been a major obstacle to achieving true A-list celebrity status. He stated that not being white has likely held him back.

Simu Liu, reflecting on roles offered after his success in Shang-Chi, told The Hollywood Reporter that it’s more challenging for actors of color to land leading roles. He acknowledged that this observation might be considered controversial.

Liu explained that understanding how a system benefits certain people – and how it makes future success easier for them once they’ve had a break – hasn’t been his own experience. He observed that once someone gains momentum within a system, it becomes much simpler to achieve further success, but that hasn’t happened for him.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Simu Liu’s recent comments, and he really hit a nerve with me. He pointed out something crucial: despite the success of ‘Shang-Chi,’ he wasn’t immediately flooded with leading role offers. He believes a white actor in the same position would have seen those opportunities come much faster and in greater numbers. It’s a stark reminder that even with a groundbreaking film like ‘Shang-Chi,’ systemic advantages still clearly exist for white actors in Hollywood. It’s a frustrating truth, and his perspective feels incredibly valid.

Ever since I loved him in Shang-Chi back in 2021, I’ve been seeing Simu Liu pop up in everything – Barbie, Atlas, Last Breath, you name it. But it’s usually not as the main guy. He seems totally cool with that, though. He recently said he’s really thankful for all the work he has been getting, and honestly, good for him! It’s great to see him staying busy.

I was really interested to hear that The Copenhagen Test is actually Simu Liu’s first time leading a series since Shang-Chi – that’s a big deal! It’s going to be eight episodes long and hits Peacock on December 27th, 2025, so mark your calendars if you’re as excited as I am.

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2025-12-23 16:47