Although there’s been no official word as of yet from Marvel Studios, The Avengers director Joss Whedon has seemingly confirmed that James Gunn (Super) is set to helm the upcoming ‘big space epic’ Guardians of the Galaxy during an interview with MTV News (via CBM):
“James is what makes me think it will work. I myself was sort of like, ‘Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I’m not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].’ And then they said, ‘Well, we’re thinking about using James Gunn.’ And I said, ‘Oh, then no, you’re fine.’ He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon. This is the guy who wrote The Specials. People don’t understand how influential that movie was about heroes, about taking heroes and making them mundane. And [he directed] Super. Gunn has barely started, but already has a very twisted take on it, but it all comes from a real love for the material. It’s going to be hard for the humans to keep up. I know he’s going to come from left field and I’m going to go, ‘What?’ And then, ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that?’ And then I’m going to beat him!”
Guardians of the Galaxy is rumoured to centre on an American pilot who finds himself embroiled in an interstellar conflict and goes on the run with a team of ex-cons who possess an item that everyone wants. The film will follow Captain America: The Winter Soldier as part of Marvel’s ‘Phase Two’ slate, and is due to hit cinemas on August 1st, 2014.
Originally published September 11, 2012. Updated November 29, 2022.
