James Gunn Reveals The Future Of Guardians Of The Galaxy 4
James Gunn is finished with Marvel now that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is finished.
James Gunn is finished with Marvel now that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theaters. In an interview with Esquire, the new DC boss said he would be excited to see the Guardians legacy continue, but with a new group, a new director, and perhaps a new title.
“I don’t think there will ever be a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4,” Gunn said. “There’s many reasons this group will not be back. There could be more Guardians movies, but it won’t be with this group.”
One of those reasons is that James Gunn wrapped up the journeys of most of his characters in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Tortured heroes like Drax, Nebula, Gamora, and Rocket finally found roles in the galaxy where they truly belong.
Another reason is that actors like Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista are also finished with Marvel; their decade long journey going through countless hours of painstaking makeup is over.
Still, some of the Guardians have room to return. James Gunn introduced Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and it is likely that he will return in some capacity. Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord was teased to return in the film’s post-credit scene, with the character finally returned to his home on Earth.
In whatever form they come back, James Gunn only has one rule for the person who takes on the next iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy. “I think as long as somebody brings themselves to it, and doesn’t just try to copy that style, I think it can be really amazing,” Gunn said. “And there’s so many directors I would like to do that. And I would love to see it happen.”
James Gunn has officially given his blessing for more Guardians of the Galaxy films, but it is clear that no one will ever do it like him. The cast of the Guardians films had nothing but praise for Gunn, who, according to them, poured all of his own feelings as a misfit into the films.
“It comes down to James Gunn as a dude, I think,” said Chris Pratt. “He’s an incredibly empathetic person. He cares deeply about people, a lot about animals, and he’s really f***ing weird. He’s a misfit himself, so when he’s creating a story about misfits, he knows the heart of one.”
James Gunn also changed the career trajectories of every cast member in his Guardians of the Galaxy lineup. The film launched Dave Bautista, redefined Chris Pratt as a movie star, and brought Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff further into the spotlight. For that, the cast is forever grateful.
Modern blockbusters often tell stories about world, galaxy, and universe ending stakes. For James Gunn, even though he’s telling a story about the Guardians of the Galaxy, knows it has to be more personal than that.
“I’ve always been fascinated by this, honestly,” Gunna said. “You’ll be watching this earthquake happening that’s about to swallow Los Angeles, and there will be a dog running through the streets, narrowly avoiding the devastation. And you’ll care more about the fate of that dog than you will all of Los Angeles.”
Gunn’s understanding of that principle is part of what made the Guardians trilogy so special. Now James Gunn will bring the humanity of the Guardians of the Galaxy to another alien story, Superman: Legacy. Gunn will kick off the next wave of DC films with a reboot of the classic superhero that attempts to find a level of empathy for Superman that has been lacking in many adaptations.
As the next chapter of DC begins, James Gunn closes another with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film was a fitting end to the trilogy, and a nostalgic reminder of how far Marvel movies and the people that make them have come. Fans may never see the Guardians they know and love again, but as the latest film reminds us, all good things have their ends, and we are better for them.
