Shang Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton stepped away from the director’s chair for Avengers: Kang Dynasty. According to Deadline, Cretton decided to put more energy and focus on his other Marvel project as a part of his contract.

In addition to his work on Wonder Man, Cretton is also developing the sequel to his previous film Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Shang Chi helped enhance his career due to its record $94.6 million domestic opening over the Labor Day weekend, marking it as the highest-grossing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) film of all time. As a result of this success, Cretton signed on to work with Marvel Studios and Hulu’s Onyx Collective.

Even though Shang Chi gave Cretton the spotlight, various other projects have given him recognition as a director. For instance, his 2013 indie drama Short Term 12, which followed a social worker making a connection with a troubled teen, helped launch his career alongside Brie Larson and Ramie Malek before their respective starring roles in Captain Marvel and Bohemian Rhapsody. Additionally, he has worked as the executive producer for the Disney+ series American Born Chinese, of which he also directed two episodes. The coming-of-age series follows Jin Wang (Ben Wang) as he struggles to find himself as he grapples with Chinese folklore and mysticism bleeding into his life.

Avengers: Kang Dynasty is set to be released on May 1st, 2026.