Although it was set to begin shooting early in the New Year ahead of an expected 2020 release, James Gunn’s firing from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has left big question marks hanging over the cosmic superhero threequel.
It was reported in the trades last week that Marvel had decided to put the project on hold while the studio regroups and continues its search for a new director, and that has now been confirmed by Drax star Dave Bautista.
“It’s kind of a strange situation to be in now where we’ve lost our director for Guardians,” said Bautista in an interview with Digital Spy. “Guardians 3 is really up in the air and I don’t know what they’re going to do with it. It’s on permanent hold for now, and that may make a difference in what they do with our characters in Avengers 4. To be honest with you, right now I really don’t know. But I know I’m in Avengers 4. I’ve shot most of it already. I do have two days of reshoots. But other than that, I have some really great scenes that I hope they use. But I guess that it remains to be seen what they’ll do with the characters.”
Bautista has been very outspoken against Disney with regards to Gunn’s firing, stating that he’d find it “pretty nauseating” working for the Mouse House and saying that he would ask Marvel for his release from his contract if Gunn’s original Guardians 3 script isn’t used.
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So, it seems that Marvel may be turning its attention elsewhere for its initial Phase Four movies, which matches up with previous reports that the studio is in no hurry to find Gunn’s replacement on Guardians Vol. 3.