By Declan Finucane

Published May 25, 2022 at 1:59 pm

“Mississauga native and Hollywood action movie star Simu Liu continues to check all the boxes along the road to superstardom.

Liu, 33, the star of Marvel’s 2021 mega-hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, took to social media earlier this week to let people know he’s part of a popular annual feature on the cover of TIME magazine.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe star, who’s beefed up his resume in the last six months or so by winning a pair of People’s Choice awards and hosting an episode of the iconic Saturday Night Live in New York City, has been chosen one of TIME’s 100 most influential people of 2022.

“Shocked, grateful, honoured and terrified to be included in one of the (TIME) covers this year!!” Liu posted to his Twitter account on Tuesday.

“But beyond me…this is about the importance of representation. Thanks to all who came before, and who will come after. It’s a privilege to bear the torch for a brief moment.”

Fellow Canadian Sandra Oh wrote the TIME 100 feature piece on Liu.

Liu always seems to be where the action is these days–both on the big screen and elsewhere.

Just over a month removed from his well-received, playful onstage performance as one of the presenters at the Oscars in Los Angeles in late March, Liu hosted the Juno Awards, Canada’s biggest celebration of homegrown music, in mid-May.

The Mississauga native has also released his first book and learned last December that a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in the works.

Liu, former star of CBC sitcom Kim’s Convenience, received largely positive reviews for his charmingly “Canadian” onstage performance as one of the presenters at the Oscars on March 27.

The action star and American comedian Tiffany Haddish teamed up to present the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Just prior to announcing the winner, the pair pulled off a funny little shtick centered around a few Canadian jokes–and they did so in low-key, tasteful fashion while showing some genuine onstage chemistry.

Last December, Liu took home two People’s Choice awards. He won for Best Action Movie Star of the Year and the Marvel film in which he starred took home Action Movie of the Year. “