Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is introducing a character that could have an impact on the MCU’s multiverse. Though not seen in either of the trailers, a creature called “Morris” is expected to appear in the movie in some capacity. His presence was spoiled by merchandise associated with the film.
Looking at the stories starring Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu, it may have seemed to some that Shang-Chi was going to be a grounded MCU adventure that’s on a much smaller scale than its other stories. That would have made sense, given that Shang-Chi’s skillset makes him a perfect adversary for some of its street-level villains. However, the trailers have proven that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is so much more than just an origin story for the hero. Exploring the truth about the Ten Rings organization and the MCU’s real Mandarin (Tony Leung) will bring in a number of new elements. This was confirmed by the presence of sword-wielding warriors, the impressive powers of the Ten Rings, the giant lions, and a dragon in an underwater scene.
Marvel’s willingness to get into fantasy territory with Shang-Chi opens up questions about what else it may incorporate. It’s possible that it will be one of a handful of MCU movies in Phase 4 to dive straight into the concept of the multiverse and this idea that there’s an infinite number of realities, timelines, and dimensions in Marvel’s world. In fact, Shang-Chi’s story could have consequences for the multiverse. Here’s how that could happen, and why Morris could be the key.
Shang-Chi lego sets and action figures reveal that Morris is a small, faceless creature that has wings and walks on four legs. The fact that he’s packaged with Katy’s Marvel Legends action figure could be an indication that he’ll be a companion to Awkwafina’s character in the movie. As for what he actually is, Marvel hasn’t provided any details as of yet. That being said, some clues can be found in Chinese mythology. The design Marvel has chosen for Morris connects him with a being from ancient Chinese texts, known both as “Hundun” and as a “Dijiang”.
In many old myths, Hundun is identified as a divine entity who caused the birth of the universe. He, along with several others, ruled different parts of the world, with Hundun living in the center. Hundun’s life came to an end when he allowed his fellow rulers to drill orifices into his body in an effort to be rid of his faceless features. Unfortunately, the change killed him because it made it him into something that he was never supposed to be. This version was depicted as a benevolent figure, but there are some stories that paint him in a different light. A few myths depict Hundun as one of the Four Evils, a group of wicked deities that bring harm to the universe. There are dozens of interpretations of the creature, but the one consistent theme is his status as a god of chaos older than Heaven and Earth.
What does Shang-Chi’s Morris have to do with Hundun in the MCU? Marvel picking this particular mythical beast from Chinese mythology may be a sign that he’s of vast importance not only to the movie but the multiverse as a whole. After all, Hundun’s connection to the universe’s creation is integral to his identity, so it makes sense that these myths are relevant to understanding Morris’ species. It could be that Morris – which could be a nickname given to him by Katy or Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) – is a member of an elder race of god-like beings who predate the existence of the MCU’s multiverse. Shang-Chi may learn that Morris’ kind either created it or police it in some way or another. If his species possesses such astounding capabilities, Morris could travel to different realities or even wreak havoc across the MCU multiverse if he so intended. His significance to the universe, whatever it may be, may make him a target of the Mandarin. If so, that could explain how he gets drawn into Shang-Chi’s life.
In addition to that, he can provide audiences with a deep and fundamental comprehension of the multiverse ahead of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Morris could fit into its history and how it came about. As for how these revelations will be made, there’s a good chance that Wong (Benedict Wong) will be the character who shares this information with Shang-Chi. As a Master of the Mystic Arts, Wong could have knowledge of what Morris’ purpose is in the MCU.
Both the comics and the movies utilize the nexus concept, which is this idea that there are certain people in the universe capable of altering the timestream and changing the future. Veering off their path in the timeline creates what Loki calls “nexus events”. In the comics, the people that can cause such changes are known as “nexus beings”. Scarlet Witch is one in Marvel Comics, and was heavily implied to be one in the MCU via WandaVision’s “Nexus” commercial. Another character who fits the description of a nexus being is Loki (Tom Hiddleston), especially since there are so many variants of him in the MCU. Shang-Chi’s Morris could be a third. When taking his consideration his role in creating the universe in the myths, it does seem plausible that he may be a nexus being who could change the course of the timeline, for better or worse.
Through Morris, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings seems poised to continue Phase 4’s chaos theme. This started in WandaVision when Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) evolved into her comic counterpart and learned the truth about her Chaos Magic abilities, which she previously used to create a fake world for herself. The word was brought up again in both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki. In the former, chaos was thought to be the goal of the Flag-Smashers, who desired anarchy in place of borders and governments. Loki’s Sylvie told Tom Hiddleston’s character that “the universe wants to break free, so it manifests chaos”, which means that in her eyes, generating chaos is Loki’s purpose in the universe. If Morris shares Hundun’s nature as a being of chaos, Shang-Chi could be one more MCU project to touch on these ideas before Doctor Strange 2 takes it to the next level by sending the multiverse into “madness”.
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