While Marvel Studios is keeping its Phase Four plans tightly under wraps (well, save for Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), we do know that there’s going to be an increased emphasis on the cosmic side of the MCU, with Guardians director James Gunn said to be working closely with Kevin Feige as a “cosmic consultant”.
Well, both Gunn and Feige have commented on this during an interview with Vanity Fair, and it seems it’s not quite as formal a role as The Avengers director Joss Whedon had during Phase Two of the MCU – at least, not yet.
“They’ve talked to me about that,” said Gunn. “They’re interested in that. But I haven’t decided what my role is going to be after Guardians 3. Avengers 3 and 4 are the end of an era of Marvel. This is the end of a long-form story that’s been told for the last 10 years. And Guardians Vol. 3 is a big part of the beginning of what comes after that while simultaneously being the end of this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Something Kevin [Feige] has been really open to talking to me about is helping them decide where that goes.”
“With Joss it was more unique,” added Feige. “It was more of a sort of a contractual thing as part of his deal on Avengers 2 that he would help us oversee it. There’s not that with James. But what there is with James is that camaraderie and the notion that a lot of what’s been done in Guardians and a lot of the great characters that we’ve done in Guardians could have potential as their own things. Working with James to figure out where those could go and how that could work has certainly been part of our discussions.”
Based on those comments, it certainly seems that the opportunity is there for Gunn should he choose to accept – although he’s also probably going to be pretty busy with Guardians Vol. 3 over the next couple of years, so his involvement is presumably going to be fairly limited for the time being.
Originally published December 2, 2017. Updated April 19, 2018.
