Canadian actor Simu Liu cast as Marvel's first Chinese superhero, Shang-Chi

New details about Marvel's first Chinese hero were revealed at San Diego's Comic-Con Saturday, including who the lead actor will be and he'sCanadian.

Simu Liu, known for his role as Jung Kim on the CBC sitcomKim's Convenience, will star in the highly-anticipated superherofilm Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Liu was screen tested just a week ago and found out he was cast on Tuesday two days before Comic-Con began.

"I feel like I was kind of this social experiment," Liu joked with the audience."Let'sjust take this guy, an ordinary guy, living in Toronto. Let's tell him he's going to be in the next Marvel movie and give him fourdays to prep for it.

"This is just the craziest, craziest, dream."

The upcoming film marks Marvel's first feature with an Asian lead.

Liu,30,left China at the age of five and was raised in Mississauga, Ont. He graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and began working at an accounting firm. When he was laid off within a year, he opted for a new career path.

Simu Liu thanks his parents in 2017 for building his Canadian life:

He began acting in 2012 with a roleon the TV series Nikita. Since then, he has had credits onFresh Off The Boat, Orphan Black, Slasher and Bad Bloodamong other series. In 2017, he was nominated for both a Canadian Screen Award and an ACTRAAward for his role on the TV series Blood and Water. He won an ACTRA ensemble awardthe following year as part of the Kim's Convenience cast.

My parents emigrated from China to Canada 25 years ago with nothing except the hopes and dreams to build a family and to build a life for their kids.- Shang-Chi lead Simu Liu at Comic-Con 2019

"My parents emigrated from China to Canada 25 years ago with nothing except the hopes and dreams to build a family and to build a life for their kids," Liu said.

"All I've ever wanted to do growing up is to make them proud. So basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm really happy that I'm not a doctor!"

The character of Shang-Chi, based on the Marvel Comics superhero, is often referred to as amaster of Kung-Fu, having been trained in martial arts by his father from a young age. Awkwafina and Tony Leung(who will play supervillain The Mandarin)will co-star in the film, which will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

Cretton said the casting involved an "in-depth searchto try to find somebody who will capture this character with all the dimensions he deserves."

The announcement took place during Marvel's heavily-attended panel at Comic-Con, in which the studio offeredsneak peaks at its upcoming productions.

Strides for Asian actors

Marvel's news comes on the heels of some major and long-overdue stridesby Asian actors and creators in Hollywood, who have been historically underrepresented both on screen and behind the camera.

"That's why I think representation in Marvel is so important," said Nancy Wang Yuen, asociologist and author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism.

"Thewhole world is watching and I think that it could really do good in terms of sharing social messages that can broaden the perspectives of audiences," shetold CBC News in Los Angeles.

Last year's Crazy Rich Asians, based on thenovel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, has become one ofthe top-grossing romantic comedies of the last several decades, according to Box Office Mojo.It featured a rarely-seen all-Asian cast and includedfilm locations in Malaysia and Singapore (where most of thestory is set). It was also nominated for a 2019 Golden Globe Award in the category of best comedy.

Canadian Domee Shi won an Oscar this year for Pixar'sanimated short film Bao, which tells the story of a dumpling that comes to life in the home of a Chinese empty-nester.

Other recent filmssuch as Always Be My Maybe, starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, and To All The Boys I've Loved Before, starring Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, have featured Asian leadsin universally-themed storylines without making ethnicity the central focus.

Not 'free to fail'

Yuen saidevery step is significant, but diverse actors and filmmakersoften carry an added burdento make sure their project succeeds so it doesn't close doors for their community as a whole.

"It's like, we only have one chance," said Yuen. "We're still at a point where it's not likewe're free to fail ... and thatkind of racism is something that we still have to grapple with."

Simu Liu on Qwith Tom Power talks about the representation of Asian men on screen:

China, a coveted market for Hollywood,has also become a significant marketfor the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Avengers: Endgame became the top-grossing North Americanfilm at the Chinese box office, and the third overall.It smashed records there when it was released in April, earning more than$600 million US the first foreign film to do so in the country.

The release date for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis slated for February 12, 2021.In addition to the film, Marvel also revealed The Eternals, starring Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Kumail Nanjiani, is set for release Nov. 6, 2020. It will also introduce the studio's first deaf hero, played by Lauren Ridloff.