‘Shang-Chi’ Star Awkwafina on Her Key Role During Casting of Simu Liu’s Superhero | THR News - video Dailymotion

As the first official cast member, the star eventually read with numerous actors who were vying for the life-changing and historic role.

Transcript

00:00Who are you?

00:05Awkwafina is opening up about the key role she played in casting Simu Liu,

00:09the star of Marvel Studios' first Asian-led superhero movie,

00:12Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

00:15Director Destin Daniel Cretton and his collaborators knew early on

00:18they wanted Awkwafina for the part of Katie, the best friend of Sean,

00:21a.k.a. Shang-Chi.

00:23So as the first official cast member of the film,

00:25Awkwafina read with numerous actors who were vying for the life-changing and historic role.

00:29She told The Hollywood Reporter about the chemistry reads,

00:32All I knew on that day was that I was part of finding Shang-Chi.

00:35So I wanted to do just that. I wanted to come in, do my part,

00:38not be distracting and let these actors give probably one of the most important auditions of their lives at that point.

00:44So I just wanted to blend in and help them showcase what they could do.

00:47Awkwafina went on to reveal what it was like when she read with Liu, who of course landed the role.

00:52She said,

00:53I remember testing with Simu that day and he was nervous. I was nervous too.

00:57I was like, I hope I don't get fired in the process of chemistry reading.

01:00But it was apparent that he was Shang-Chi from the jump.

01:03I gave you 10 years to live your life.

01:10Now you see me rise.

01:12And where did that get you?

01:14Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on September 3rd.

01:18For more from THR's interview with Awkwafina, go to THR.com.

01:22For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.