In July 2018, Disney fired James Gunn, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, after controversial tweets from his past resurfaced. However, after much public backlash and support from the cast and crew of Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney reinstated Gunn as the director for the third installment of the franchise in March 2019.
Now, there are rumors circulating that James Gunn may be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after completing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Here is what we know so far:
Gunn’s Contractual Obligations
James Gunn signed a contract with Marvel Studios to direct and write Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 back in 2017. The movie is set to be released in May 2023 and will conclude the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
According to reports, Gunn’s contract with Marvel Studios only covers Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and there has been no announcement of an extension or renewal of his contract. This means that Gunn is not obligated to continue working in the MCU beyond the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
Gunn’s Future Projects
Despite limited information on his contractual obligations, James Gunn has several projects lined up in the near future. One of these projects is the upcoming HBO Max series, Peacemaker, which is a spinoff of the Suicide Squad movie he directed for DC.
It is unclear if Peacemaker will interfere with Gunn’s work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 or his potential involvement in future MCU projects. However, it is worth noting that Gunn has expressed interest in exploring other genres and projects outside of the superhero genre.
MCU Phase Four
The MCU Phase Four has already seen several new directors and writers take on various projects, including Chloé Zhao for Eternals and Destin Daniel Cretton for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This suggests that Marvel Studios is open to bringing in new talent to work on their projects.
If James Gunn does decide to leave the MCU after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it is possible that Marvel Studios will bring in a new director for future Guardians of the Galaxy movies or explore other options for the characters within the MCU.
Gunn’s Relationship with Marvel Studios
Despite the controversy surrounding his firing in 2018, James Gunn was ultimately rehired by Disney and has continued to work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He has also expressed gratitude towards Marvel Studios for allowing him to continue working on the franchise.
However, there have been no public statements from either party regarding Gunn’s potential departure from the MCU. It is possible that both parties are still in negotiations regarding future projects and contractual obligations.
Conclusion
In summary, while there are rumors circulating about James Gunn leaving the MCU after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, there has been no official confirmation from either party. Gunn’s contractual obligations only cover the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie, but he has expressed interest in exploring other projects outside of the superhero genre. The MCU Phase Four has already seen new talent brought in for various projects, suggesting that Marvel Studios is open to bringing in new directors and writers. Ultimately, only time will tell if James Gunn will continue working within the MCU beyond Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
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