Shang-Chi co-creator, Jim Starlin, recently revealed his one disappointment with the MCU film. With a delayed production and a 2021 release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was an unknown factor with audiences prior to its release. Due to the general audience's unfamiliarity with the character as well as movie theaters still affected by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the action-adventure fantasy film was a major question mark hanging over the MCU's Phase 4. However, the movie was a hit with both critics and fans alike, making the top 10 list of highest-grossing films of 2021.
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Based on a character created by writer Steve Englehart and Starlin, the film starred Simu Liu as the titular character, the son of Tony Leung's Xu Wenwu (aka the Mandarin), a conqueror who used the mysterious Ten Rings to dominate the ancient world. Shang-Chi wants nothing to do with him but must confront his past when he fears his sister is in danger. After traveling to China and taking on his father, it is revealed that Wenwu wishes to infiltrate the magical village of Ta Lo and break down a sealed gate that he believes is guarding his long-dead wife. However, when Wenwu succeeds in breaking down the gate, it is revealed that it protected Ta Lo from the evil soul-eating dragon creature, the Dweller-in-Darkness.
Speaking with Inverse, Starlin revealed one disappointment he had with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The artist shared that he was happy with the film, especially with the change of tone. Starlin said the film left him "stunned" but also claimed that he had one major "disappointment" with the movie. He wished that the giant green dragon from Marvel Comics, Fin Fang Foom, appeared in the movie at the end. Read what Starlin said below.
I was very amused. Everyone figured that The Eternals was going to be the big movie and Shang-Chi was going to bomb. I never bought that. They had a good director and they had a writer who had a background in comedy, which was what Marvel needed because the story that Steve Engelhardt and I created was very dark. It needed some lightening up.
They did a great job at it. I walked out of there just stunned. My only disappointment was that it wasn't Fin Fang Foom who was the dragon. I was waiting for a dragon in a bathing suit.
Created by Marvel Comics in 1961, Fin Fang Foom is a giant alien creature that resembles a Chinese dragon and wears what appear to be swimming briefs. In the comics, Fin Fang Foom was once awakened by the Mandarin and used to take on the Chinese government. Starlin likely remembered the two characters' previous connection and hoped that he would see the creature reunite with Wenwu in the film.
Although Fin Fang Foom did not make his official introduction into the MCU in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, there is still a chance that the dragon could appear in an upcoming MCU project. Shang-Chi 2 is reportedly in development, but no story details have been revealed. It does, however, create an opportunity for the dragon to appear. Fin Fang Foom could also make his MCU introduction in What If…? season 2. The animation medium allows the visual of a giant green dragon wearing a purple Speedo to be more palatable to audiences. The series' multiverse premise creates a greater opportunity for some less prominent Marvel Comics characters to finally make their shared universe entrance. Although Starlin was disappointed that Fin Fang Foom did not appear in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with the MCU expanding at a rapid pace, there is more than enough room for such a unique creature to be unveiled in the future.