Simu Liu says Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen left him 'the most starstruck' on 'Avengers: Doomsday' set

Simu Liu has revealed that acting alongside Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in Avengers: Doomsday was the most starstruck he has ever felt, describing the experience of sharing the screen with the legendary X-Men stars as surreal.

Speaking exclusively to People at San Diego Comic-Con, Liu reflected on returning as Shang-Chi in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster, which brings together heroes from the Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men franchises for the first time. While the film boasts one of the biggest ensembles in superhero history, Liu admitted it was Stewart and McKellen who left the biggest impression on him.

"They are the most starstruck I've ever been," Liu said, explaining that he grew up watching the original X-Men films and has long admired both actors. He also praised their work beyond Marvel, pointing to Stewart's career in Star Trek and McKellen's acclaimed performances in The Lord of the Rings films.

Liu likened filming Avengers: Doomsday to playing with action figures as a child, except this time he gets to stand alongside the superheroes he grew up idolising. He said seeing so many iconic Marvel characters united in one production has made the experience feel unlike anything else in his career.

The actor has known he would eventually return as Shang-Chi since the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, but said the project only truly came together over the past year. He teased that fans should expect Avengers: Doomsday to be a massive cinematic event when it arrives in cinemas on 18 December.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Doomsday will unite Earth's Mightiest Heroes with the Fantastic Four and the original X-Men as they face Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. The highly anticipated film is expected to be one of Marvel Studios' biggest releases to date.