Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu to play the villain in Jennifer Lopez’s Atlas

Just because you’re a Marvel superhero doesn’t mean that you can’t engage in a few acts of villainy. Deadline has reported that Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is set to star alongside Jennifer Lopez (Shotgun Wedding) as the antagonist in Netflix’s Atlas.

Jennifer Lopez stars as Atlas, “a woman fighting for humanity in a future where an AI soldier has determined the only way to end war is to end humanity. To outthink this rogue AI, Atlas must work with the one thing she fears most — another AI.” Brad Peyton (Rampage) will direct Atlas, with Aron Eli Coleite (Locke & Key) penning the most recent draft of the script based on the original by Leo Sardarian (StartUp). In addition to Jennifer Lopez and Simu Liu, Atlas will also star Sterling K. Brown (This is Us) and Abraham Popoola (Morbius).

Before Simu Liu shows off his dark side in Atlas, he will next be seen playing one of several Ken’s in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. The film stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, America Ferrera, Ncuti Gatwa, Hari Nef, and will hit theaters on July 21, 2023. The actor will also be seen starring alongside Mark Wahlberg in Arthur the King. Based on the book Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home, the film stars Mark Wahlberg as Lindnord, the “captain of a Swedish adventure racing team who met and befriended a wounded stray dog during a 400-mile race through the Ecuadoran jungle where they crossed rivers and battled illness and injury through some of the world’s toughest terrain.” Of course, Simu Liu will also be returning for the Shang-Chi sequel along with writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton.