Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 To Use James Gunn’s Script; Director Already Being Courted By Rival Studios
by Erik Amaya
Despite the absolutely ridiculous attempt to use Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn’s previous tweets against him, the director’s future prospects still look good.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney and Marvel Studios are still expected to use his script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 should he not be rehired — which may be in play as Gunn and Disney must still work out a proper exit from his contract. THR reports Gunn was not technically in violation of his contract when Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn summarily fired him in July after an extremist right-wing website necromanced ten-year old tweets of the director making light of pedophilia and rape. As the tweets were posted long before Gunn became a Disney contractor, his dismissal opens up an unusual contractual situation in regards to how much of his director’s fee the studio must pay out.
The site also indicates rival studios are looking to hire Gunn for some of their projects; potentially including Warner Bros. Pictures, who could use Gunn’s help with their DC Films universe. Though some would be willing to work with him in “in a heartbeat,” one studio executive told the site “I’ve been advised that we can’t bring anything to him until the Disney matter is 100 percent resolved.”
And that resolution could include Gunn returning to the Marvel Studios fold for another feature franchise.
Strangely silent in all of this is Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, the presumed real target of the website’s operation as it was timed for Marvel Studio’s traditional appearance at Comic-Con International: San Diego. Feige, who ultimately reports to Horn, may be trying to undo the damage even as he refuses to comment on this or any other matter.
Nonetheless, a source close to Marvel tells THR, “an end-all verdict hasn’t been issued and conversations with Marvel are still ongoing.”
Hopefully, the most amicable resolution — Gunn’s reinstatement as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — may yet occur.
