Avengers: Doomsday Star Simu Liu Spills the Mortifying Story Behind His First Meeting With Robert Downey Jr.
Shang-Chi star Simu Liu cringed on Jimmy Fallon as he recounted a disastrously timed first meeting with Robert Downey Jr. during a recent shoot.
Simu Liu went on Fallon and told the kind of story that haunts group photos forever: the first time he met Robert Downey Jr., he was wearing very short, bright blue shorts. Yes, really.
The setup
On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Liu talked about his return as Shang-Chi in the next Avengers movie and watched a photo pop up of him with a stacked roster: Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, and Robert Downey Jr. Great company, except Liu was the one person dressed like he just jogged in from the gym.
Why the shorts?
Liu explained he was the only one actually shooting that day, so that was simply his wardrobe at the time. Then Downey wanted to come say hi mid-shoot. Bad timing, bold shorts.
"Oh, look at you...that's a choice."
That was Downey's greeting. The audience lost it, and Liu admitted it was his first time meeting the guy, which made the whole thing even more mortifying. In his words, he was as embarrassed showing the photo on national TV as he was in the moment.
- The photo lineup: Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Robert Downey Jr., and Simu Liu
- Liu is the only one in very short, bright blue shorts; everyone else is dressed normally
- It was Liu's first time meeting Downey
- Reason for the outfit: Liu was the only one shooting that day and got pulled to say hello mid-shoot
- Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026, with Liu back as Shang-Chi
- He also recently showed up in In Your Dreams, which premiered on Netflix in November
Look, if Robert Downey Jr. asks to say hi, you go, shorts and all.