The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been on a roll with blockbuster hits like Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame (2019). However, the controversial firing of James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has left fans wondering who will take the reins of this beloved cosmic adventure series.
Could Taika Waititi Have Been the Perfect Replacement?
Many speculated that Taika Waititi, the creative genius behind 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, would be the ideal candidate to replace Gunn. Both directors share a unique vision for storytelling, reinventing and deconstructing otherwise stale genres to deliver fresh, original, and unexpected cinematic experiences.
Thor: Ragnarok felt like a Guardians movie, with its retro style and themes of displaced and surrogate families. Waititi successfully tapped into an unexplored undercurrent of the franchise and took it in a daring, unprecedented direction. His work on Ragnarok was widely recognized as one of Marvel’s best films to date, making him a natural choice to take over the Guardians series.
Taika Waititi Declines the Guardians’ Mantle
Unfortunately, in a recent interview, Waititi put an end to the speculation, stating that he would not be directing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He explained, “For me, those are James Gunn’s films. Going into something like that with his stamp all over his films, would be like going into someone’s house and saying, ‘Hey, I’m your new dad, and this is how we make peanut butter sandwiches now. It feels kind of awkward.”
While Waititi expressed his desire to work on another Marvel project, he confirmed that it would not be a Guardians movie. He added, “I’m still hanging out with those guys and talking about new stuff.”
The Uncertain Future of the Guardians Franchise
With James Gunn’s departure from Marvel Studios (and his move to Warner Bros to helm the upcoming sequel to Suicide Squad (2016)), the fate of the Guardians franchise remains uncertain. The entire cast publicly supported Gunn during the height of his Twitter controversy, with Drax actor Dave Bautista even vowing not to renew his contract with the studio once he’s completed his remaining obligations.
Originally intended to spearhead Marvel’s expansion into the wider cosmos of its movie universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has struggled to find a director willing to take on the project in the wake of Gunn’s ousting. The list of potential candidates who could do justice to the material is slim at best.
For many fans, James Gunn was the heart and soul of the Guardians franchise. His unique perspective brought the characters and their stories to life, setting them apart from their comic book origins. With Gunn’s departure, it’s possible that the essence of the Guardians of the Galaxy has been lost forever.