Simu Liu Reveals He and Channing Tatum Went All in for Their ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Showdown, No Stunt Doubles Involved

Marvel’s massive multiversal crossover has been quietly assembling one of the most stacked casts in franchise history, pulling together heroes from wildly different corners of the comic book universe for one epic collision. Among the many unexpected pairings teased so far, one particular showdown has fans especially intrigued given just how differently these two characters typically operate.

That anticipation stems from Shang-Chi and Gambit, two hand-to-hand combat specialists who’ve never really crossed paths in the comics, being thrown into direct conflict for ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ Trailer footage has already teased a kinetic clash between Simu Liu’s martial artist and Channing Tatum’s card-throwing Cajun thief, and the actors themselves have been increasingly candid about just how much work went into bringing that fight to life.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Liu revealed that he and Tatum shot the entire sequence themselves without relying on stunt doubles, a decision that came with real physical consequences. Liu described the process as genuinely painful, crediting directors Joe and Anthony Russo with prioritizing practical realism over heavy digital effects for the sequence.

According to Liu, this version of Shang-Chi has grown noticeably since audiences last saw him, describing his character as “slightly more mature and self-assured” and someone who’s simply “ready for fight” regardless of who’s standing in front of him. He also noted a small but telling physical detail behind the scenes, revealing that his elbows ended up bruised throughout filming because Tatum’s staff prop was real while Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings were not.

That dedication to doing their own stunt work wasn’t a solo effort on Liu’s part. Speaking separately in an official Marvel interview at Comic-Con, Liu explained that Tatum immediately raised the bar during their first fight rehearsal, admitting he knew Tatum moved well but was still caught off guard by just how skilled he turned out to be once rehearsals began.

Liu described both himself and Tatum as “two people who don’t like to let the stunt doubles do it,” emphasizing that they were both fully committed to owning the physicality of their scenes themselves. That mutual investment reportedly led to an unusually extensive rehearsal process, with both actors pushing each other to bring their absolute best to the choreography.

Given Shang-Chi’s comic book reputation as one of the greatest fighters in the Marvel universe, Liu made clear he wanted that legacy reflected on screen, regardless of whether his character was squaring off against Gambit or eventually Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. That commitment to authenticity appears to be a defining thread running through how both actors approached their roles in the film.

The Shang-Chi and Gambit clash is just one piece of an enormous ensemble cast assembled for ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which brings together heroes and villains from across multiple MCU eras and the previously separate X-Men film franchise. With the Russo brothers returning to direct and Downey stepping into the role of Doctor Doom, the film has positioned itself as one of the most ambitious crossover events Marvel has ever attempted.

For fans who’ve grown accustomed to heavily digital, CGI-assisted superhero action, Liu and Tatum’s approach offers a refreshing throwback to more grounded, practical fight choreography. Whether that hands-on commitment translates into one of the film’s standout sequences will become clear once ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.

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