Morris from Shang-Chi and the Tale of the Ten Rings could have had a quite different appearance from what was depicted on screen.
When it was first revealed alongside Trevor Slattery, who was making a comeback, the faceless, adorable-as-a-button beast made a big impression. The ex-terrorist turned Shakespearean actor was kept company while imprisoned by a cute, faceless, winged friend from the ethereal kingdoms of Ta Lo.
Regrettably, Ben Kingsley had to perform against a large, green, plush object that was filled with sandbags because Morris wasn’t actually there. Yet given his talent, he undoubtedly made the scenario seem appealing.
What if Morris weren’t quite so tiny, adorable, and cuddly?
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Morris Is Much More Dreadful In Shang-Chi
Morris appears in a somewhat different version in the recently published Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Art of the Motion book by Marvel Studios.
Putting “expression on a faceless creature” was difficult for the adorable tiny creature, according to concept illustrator John Stab:
“I wanted to make something that was a little nicer, something that seemed like it would make a fantastic travel companion,” the artist explained. I referred to many tiny, real-life species, but one of the difficulties was expressing emotion in a faceless being.
Morris’ wings, which served as “a fantastic tool for expression,” provided the solution.
“In the end, I believed that his wings would be a fantastic means of expression, serving as enormous eyebrows to convey emotions such as wrath, worry, excitement, etc. It was simpler to get the rest of his body to express the same emotion once that was established. I had a feeling from away that this persona was going to stick in my memory. This man is going to be adorable, I thought, especially as I worked on the expression sheet.
Ultimately, Morris was modeled after a Chinese mythological creature called a Hundun.
According to concept artist Tully Summers, the creature was initially “supposed to be imposing and fearsome” and had previously “fought with [the film’s] heroes:” despite the fact that the final product was charming and cuddly.
“My first Morris designs were intended to be imposing and formidable because the story had all these exciting moments where he battles alongside our heroes. included predatory cats’ lethal claws and strong musculature. I experimented with brighter colors and fur to try to soften Morris as production eventually transformed him into a softer, cuddlier figure.
The beast’s much bulkier appearance is unsettling, especially in comparison to what appeared on the screen.
Morris also appears to have been around the size of a miniature horse.
Those claws could cause some incredible damage to whatever was on the opposite side of them, thus the artists definitely captured the formidable aspect of the original design.
Morris’s final design features a more subdued color scheme than the concept drawing, which depicts the creature in much more vivid detail.
Will Morris Reappear in the MCU?
Fans would definitely love to spend even more time with Morris, the majestic, faceless, multi-winged dog-like monster who provided a delightful surprise in Simu Liu’s first MCU adventure.
Morris’s design is so adorable and cuddly that it’s amazing there isn’t more merchandise using them. The creature seems to be on the same level as the prongs from The Last Jedi.
So when can fans expect to see Morris and, maybe, Shang-Chi again?
The movie “has been added to the Marvel Studios production calendar,” according to the most recent report on the much-awaited sequel.
The movie’s release date was also originally rumored to be early 2025. Fantastic Four, however, now retains that position.
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