Home Entertainment Disney reverses decision, reinstates James Gunn as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 director

Disney reverses decision, reinstates James Gunn as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 director

4 min read
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Disney had quite a week when it came to the Marvel Cinematic Universe last week. First, Captain Marvel overcame a campaign of unfounded criticism to deliver a record-breaking debut and then the studio debuted a new trailer for Avengers: Endgame out of nowhere to hype up fans. Neither of those two events could compete for pure shock value with what went down over the weekend though, as Deadline broke the news that Disney has brought back James Gunn as director on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Gunn, who had become a huge fan favourite and was rumoured to be driving the future of the MCU after the successes of the first two Guardians of Galaxy films, was infamously fired by Disney boss Alan Horn last year after controversial old tweets from the filmmaker’s early days as a provocateur re-surfaced online. While the tweets, which Horn described as “indefensible”, contained some seriously terrible jokes, what made this firing so incendiary was that Gunn had publicly apologized for these tweets years before and they were widely known about from before Disney had tapped him to join the Marvel family. They only re-surfaced this time as part of an attack by a right-wing extremist conspiracy theorist who didn’t agree with Gunn’s anti-Trump political views. The noise got picked up by conservative news network Fox who turned it into an uproar, which prompted the reaction from Disney.

A knee-jerk reaction if you ask me and many others who criticized Horn’s handling of the situation. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige reportedly tried to intercede and the cast of the Guardians films wrote an open letter declaring their support for Gunn, who, by all accounts, had seriously turned his life around years earlier to become one of the most beloved people in the studio. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax in the films, even threatened to breach his contract and walk if Gunn didn’t come back, while online petitions drew tens of thousands of signatures. It was all to no avail though as Disney doubled down on their decision. Throughout this entire process, Gunn remained humble and apologetic, and never had a bad thing to say about anybody as he accepted his fate.

And according to Deadline’s report, it was that attitude of full remorse that changed Horn’s mind. But this wasn’t a recent thing though.

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While we heard that GOTG3 had been put on hold indefinitely until a plan could be concocted, we never heard a thing about Disney looking for a replacement director. There were rumours about Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi and The Big Short filmmaker Adam McKay (who had co-written Ant-Man) being in consideration, but nothing concrete surfaced. During this time Gunn would get snapped up by rival Warner Bros. to write/direct their new Suicide Squad relaunch, seemingly cementing his status as being kicked out of the House of Mouse, but still nothing from Disney about who would fill his shoes.

And that was because there was nothing to reveal as both Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter’s sources confirm that Horn had met privately with Gunn multiple times since not too long after this whole mess transpired, and inspired by the filmmaker’s apologies and the support he had gained, Horn decided to reverse his decision. Disney has still not officially confirmed anything though, but Gunn has put out a statement on Twitter, the first time he’s used the social media platform since his firing last July.

I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months. I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be. I deeply appreciate Disney’s decision and I am excited to continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all. I have been, and continue to be incredibly humbled by your love and support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love to you all.

Some people are praising Disney for doing the right thing now, but this should never have happened in the first place as it sent a terrible message about how people should never be allowed second chances even if they change for the better. Either way, I’m just happy that Gunn is back as his unique voice and vision are what made the GOTG films the successes they were. With Disney and Marvel focused all the way on Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame right now, we probably won’t be getting any details about GOTG3 for a while, but it has been confirmed that a script Gunn penned before his firing will be used. Gunn’s recent commitment to WB won’t get in the way either as Marvel will wait until he completes his work on The Suicide Squad before commencing production.

What do you guys think about Disney reversing their decision on Gunn’s fate? Sound off in the comments below.

Last Updated: March 18, 2019

23 Comments

  1. Kromas

    March 18, 2019 at 08:32

    Yay …. more good music and good entertainment to be expected.

    Reply

  2. For the Emperor!

    March 18, 2019 at 08:03

    “left-wing extremist conspiracy theorist” – surely you meant right-wing? Though I still laugh at the “outrage culture” getting him fired as he himself loved it when it worked in his favour. Did he not weeks before his firing laugh on Twitter about someone else that got outrage-fired? Note, I did not believe it warranted a firing for such old tweets he had ALREADY apologised for. I just laughed at him being hoisted by his own petard 🙂

    “it sent a terrible message about how people should never be allowed second chances even if they change for the better” – I agree, it is a terrible message. But it is the message the Left in USA keeps pushing UNTIL it is one of “their own” that gets the shaft. Then it is all “forgiveness and second chances”. Have you seen how they defend anti-Semites because they are “on their side”?

    I too am happy that he is going to do GotG3, as I loved the first and enjoyed the second. And I would love to see him at least finish out the 3rd.

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      March 18, 2019 at 08:03

      PS: Just look again how people on the Left came after Kevin Hart for OLD tweets that he had addressed and apologised for in the past.

      Reply

      • Pariah

        March 18, 2019 at 08:22

        You know, I’m sure every single adult has said stuff in their past that they regret, and do not reflect who they are today. Mistakes are one of the most effective ways in which we learn, and to be repeatedly punished for those mistakes is wrong. There are degrees of wrong, of course, nothing is ever black & white – but that is all the more reason to not react so harshly, with little care or understanding.

        Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          March 18, 2019 at 08:27

          Agreed. The life of a public figure in our technologically connected world is tough, and there are too many a-holes out there who live only to be outraged. Many times on behalf of people who took no offence. We need a new plague 🙂

          Reply

    • Kervyn Cloete

      March 18, 2019 at 08:32

      Ag, left… right… They’re all nutjobs. We can just chill comfortably in the middle.

      Reply

      • For the Emperor!

        March 18, 2019 at 10:37

        Hehe, agreed. It is nice and sane here in the middle, and more people are here than in the fringes 🙂

        Reply

  3. Original Heretic

    March 18, 2019 at 08:03

    I wooped when I read this on Friday night!

    The winners in all this? We, the people!

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      March 18, 2019 at 10:13

      Agreed. Really looking forward to him at least finishing what he started!

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief

    March 18, 2019 at 08:27

    SANITY PREVAILS

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    March 18, 2019 at 08:37

    Awesome! Was so happy to hear this.

    Reply

  6. SagatatiaRZA

    March 18, 2019 at 08:50

    Much like the Liam Needing fiasco, it is insanity that this ever had to be an issue in the first place. One day, I’m hopeful, this sensitive political climate will die down and people can start thinking with their heads again and not rampant emotions. You don’t fix small cracks on a wall by wrecking the entire foundation. Polyfilla boys, polyfilla.

    Reply

  7. jimz0r

    March 18, 2019 at 08:59

    BREAKING: Disney likes money, wants more of it.

    More at 11

    Reply

  8. Guz

    March 18, 2019 at 09:19

    Yay o/ this is a good start to the week !

    Reply

  9. CrAiGiSh

    March 18, 2019 at 09:36

    Faith in humanity … semi resorted.

    Reply

  10. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    March 18, 2019 at 13:58

    If I were him i’d tell them to shove it where Mickey’s cartoons are stored.

    Reply

  11. Rick

    March 18, 2019 at 16:52

    Finally sanity prevails. Maybe the tide is turning against the SJWs.

    Reply

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