I've heard it alleged that the Guardians movies are unique in the franchise in that the previz department doesn't start their work until Gunn's script is complete, whereas with all the other productions, previz and scripts are worked on simultaneously, sometimes before a director is selected. Not 100% sure about that, or if there are any other exceptions, though.
The wait for a Shang-Chi sequel is indeed maddening. From Iron Man to Endgame, there were only three years (2009, 2011, and 2014) in which Tony Stark wasn't on screen (and all of his appearances were major roles), and from The First Avenger to Endgame, there wasn't a single year in which Cap wasn't on screen (though, okay, Evans' cameo in The Dark World wasn't technically Cap, and he was only a cameo in 2017's Homecoming). From Thor to Endgame, there were only two years (2014 and 2016) Thor wasn't on screen. These consistent appearances from the major Avengers were a fundamental part of the franchise's forward momentum.
Yeah, I'm rather surprised he keeps jumping from MCU project to another. First the potential Shang-Chi sequel to one of the Avengers films to now the next Spidey film. I'm curious if we'll ever know the full story about how all of those changes occurred.
While I agree that lack of Shang-Chi in other films and the lack of news on the sequel (aside from knowing it's still happening) is frustrating, I don't agree with the notion that he was ever intended to be on the same level as the Big Three. Some would argue that the lack of a proper Big Three in the Multiverse Saga demonstrates that it lacks focus and direction, but I'm actually glad they didn't try to recreate a new Big Three. They were lightning in a bottle (no pun intended) and I think it's better to expand beyond such a structure this time around.
I'm not sure about Raimi, what I read made it sound like he was taking it on as more of a hired gun role. He sounded very pleased to be doing what he was doing but as a knowing piece of the Marvel machine. At least that's the impression that I got.
It may not have been some passion project for him (he was actually a late hire, as I recall), but surely there's no denying he directed that thing the way he wanted to?
It didn't seem at all up in the air at the end of that film. It's just that TFATWS played its little game of pretending his Cap status was in jeopardy, but that was clearly a red herring. If nothing else, real-world political considerations would not have allowed him to be dumped from the Cap role.
I didn't mean it negatively but it sounded more of a workaday project for him which he was perfectly fine with. I just wouldn't put him in the list of Gunn/Waititi/etc. and I don't feel he would either. My take anyway from the interviews I read/heard at the time and I don't mean it as any knock on him.
