Upcoming Jennifer Lopez Sci-fi Movie Casts Shang-Chi Star As Villain

An upcoming Jennifer Lopez-led Netflix sci-fi movie, Atlas, casts Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu as its villain. Despite being mostly known for his role on the sitcom Kim's Convenience before Shang-Chi's release, Liu proved he could successfully headline a tentpole film in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. It was one of the biggest openings for a post-pandemic movie, grossing $432 million at the global box office and all but guaranteeing a major role for Liu in the MCU's Phase 5 and 6.

Liu's villainous turn will be in Atlas, according to a Netflix press release. Lopez stars in the film as Atlas, an intelligence analyst fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity. She gets stranded on a distant planet and despite her fear of AI, she must learn to fight inside a military-grade mech suit in order to survive. Although not confirmed in the press release, Liu will likely play the rogue AI soldier.