GOTG 3 Director James Gunn Talks About the Support From Cast Behind His Disney Rehire

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is finally releasing this May, after years of delay. This takes us back to the director of the film series, James Gunn, and all the controversies that he has been associated with this past few years. The director got fired from Disney and has changed production houses to DC since then.

And now, in a recent interview, Gunn opened up about the support that he received from the Guardians of the Galaxy cast, which he says brought him back as the director to finally finish the trilogy. Here’s all you need to know.

James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will finally hit theatres this May

Within a year of the premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Marvel Studios owner Walt Disney Studios fired director James Gunn. A series of offensive Tweets made by Gunn back in the years 2008-9 resurfaced, that joked about paedophilia, rape, abuse, and the Holocaust. Since then, multiple actors and professionals from across the industry, as well as fans, petitioned to bring him back as a director.

While he was soon absorbed by DC for Suicide Squad in 2019, Disney had to rehire him for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, following Gunn’s public apology and the mass appeal. Gunn had reportedly finished writing Guardians of the Galaxy even before he was let go by Disney, and he was back to finish what he started.

James Gunn was ‘saved’ by GOTG 3 cast

Ahead of the May 5, Gunn spoke to Empire Magazine about the support that he received from the GOTG cast, which ultimately brought him back to direct the final film in the trilogy.

“We went through this journey where we went into the belly of the beast, and I was thrown out – and the people that I gave life to by hiring, saved me and brought me back into the fold. They pulled me onto the life raft. And now we’re able to finish all of this together. So, when they see this footage [at Comic-Con], they’re reminded of this whole emotional journey we’ve all been on.”

Gunn admitted that “it was hard” being fired from Disney. He reflected on a difficult time in his life, and he remembered the love and support he received from his family and friends. He specifically mentioned how Zoe Saldaña and her husband prepared a meal for him the night after the incident, and how Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff spent time with him, simply being his friends.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 might now possibly be Gunn’s last film with Disney, given that he’s now the co-CEO of DC Studios. Earlier this year, Gunn revealed the lineup of upcoming DCU movies and shows, alongside co-COO Peter Safran, which includes the much-awaited reboot of the Man of Steel.