What Does The Future Hold For Guardians Vol. 3?
The most obvious casualty of James Gunn’s dismissal will be Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, the fate of the threequel is probably the least concerning aspect of this whole debacle. But we’re all film fans here, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have our doubts about the upcoming blockbuster.
It’s highly unlikely that the pic will be cancelled; the characters are way too marketable for that. Indeed, the Guardians series has undoubtedly been one of the standout strands in the widening web of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s thanks to James Gunn’s unique blend of heart and scrappy humor that ensured that these C-list comic book characters became household favorites. Before he was fired, Gunn was preparing to return for Vol. 3, which was set to be a spectacular home run for the trilogy. But now that he’s no longer in the picture, it could be more of a half-hearted hobble to the finish line.
How so? Well, let’s face it: whoever Kevin Feige chooses to replace Gunn will already be on the back foot as soon as they’re appointed. It’s daunting enough for filmmakers to take the reins of a successful franchise. But under such a cloud of controversy and nastiness, Guardians Vol. 3 is sure to be a pressuring prospect.
Plus, there’s a historical precedent for threequels generally underwhelming, especially when there’s a change of director (looking at you, Shrek the Third, X-Men: The Last Stand, Star Trek Beyond and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). Even in the few films that manage the transfer successfully, there’s at least some sort of stylistic disconnect from their predecessors, as it was with Thor: Ragnarok.
And speaking of Ragnarok, director Taika Waititi has emerged as the most popular replacement for Vol. 3. Because, the crux of the Guardians issue is this: who could replicate James Gunn’s distinctive style?
