Marvel has still not revealed the origins of Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings. The 2021 film only shows that the rings send out a beacon to something unknown. The top fan theories point to Kang, the alien Makluans, the Quantum Realm, the Celestials and cosmic villains. Here are 10 theories, updated for 2026 and Avengers: Doomsday.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, released in the US on 3 September 2021 and earned over $432 million worldwide. Tony Leung’s Wenwu builds his empire on the rings, yet the film never says where they came from. The mid-credits scene made the question bigger, and five years later fans are still debating it.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) |
| Director | Destin Daniel Cretton |
| Cast | Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley |
| Where to watch in India | JioHotstar |
| Shang-Chi’s next appearance | Avengers: Doomsday, US release 18 December 2026 |
| Sequel | In development, no date announced |
What the mid-credits scene shows
Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to meet Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers. Together they study the rings and find that they are acting as a beacon, sending a signal to something or someone. According to Wikipedia’s summary of the production, the origin was deliberately left open so a later Marvel project could explain it. That open door is where all the theories below come from.
10 theories about the origins of Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings
1. Kang the Conqueror
This was the most popular theory in 2021. The idea was that the rings are future technology left in the past by a variant of Kang, the time-travelling villain Marvel was setting up for its next big saga. The theory has lost ground since. Jonathan Majors, who played Kang, was fired in December 2023, and by early 2024 Marvel was reportedly moving away from the Kang storyline. The fifth Avengers film was renamed Avengers: Doomsday in July 2024, with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.
2. The Makluans
In the comics, the rings come from the Makluans, an alien race. Some fans connect them to the film’s Great Protector dragon, which would tie the rings to the film’s own mythology. This remains the theory closest to the source material.
3. The Quantum Realm
Another idea is that the rings are not from outer space at all but from another dimension. The Quantum Realm has already played a big role in the MCU, and the rings’ strange energy could fit that explanation.
4. Annihilus
Annihilus is a Fantastic Four villain linked to the Negative Zone. Some fans think the rings could be his work and that the beacon is calling him.
5. The Dweller-in-Darkness
The Dweller-in-Darkness is a cosmic and mystical threat in the comics. The theory links the rings to this being, which would push the story towards the magic side of Marvel.
6. Shuma-Gorath
Shuma-Gorath, the tentacled enemy of Doctor Strange, is another candidate. Fans who back this theory say the rings may be an ancient link to the dimensional creature, which would explain why Wong takes such a close interest in them.
7. The Celestials
The Celestials are hugely powerful beings whose role in early Earth history is still mostly unknown in the MCU. One theory says the rings are one of their inventions, left behind on Earth long ago.
8. The Eternals
The Eternals are another ancient race in the MCU. Fans noticed a similar gold-coloured power look and suggested the rings may be ancient Eternal technology.
9. The Nega Bands
The Nega Bands are Kree-made bands worn by Mar-Vell in the comics. Since Captain Marvel herself appears in the mid-credits scene, this theory says the rings and the bands may share an origin.
10. The Quantum Bands
The Quantum Bands belong to the Protectors of the Universe in the comics. Under this theory, the beacon is calling Eon or a past wearer of the bands to reclaim them.
Updated for 2026: where the Ten Rings story stands
Marvel has not yet paid off the beacon. A Shang-Chi sequel is in development, but no release date has been announced. Simu Liu is confirmed to return as Shang-Chi in Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and due in US cinemas on 18 December 2026. Liu has said the character is older and more settled than in his debut.
After that comes Avengers: Secret Wars, dated for 17 December 2027. With Kang moved aside and Doctor Doom now the main villain, many fans expect the rings to matter in the multiverse story, but nothing is confirmed. Until Marvel shows its hand, every theory on this list is still a guess. For more Marvel coverage, see our Hollywood section and movies section.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Ten Rings come from in the MCU?
The MCU has not revealed it. The 2021 film shows the rings sending a beacon, but their origin was left open for a future project.
Who made the Ten Rings in the comics?
In the comics, the rings are linked to the Makluans, an alien race. The MCU has not confirmed that this comic origin applies to the film.
Is Shang-Chi in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. Simu Liu returns as Shang-Chi in Avengers: Doomsday, which releases in US cinemas on 18 December 2026.
Where can I watch Shang-Chi in India?
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings streams on JioHotstar in India with a subscription.
Sources: Wikipedia: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wikipedia: Avengers: Doomsday, JustWatch India. More theory pieces in our listicles.
