Nearly eight months after he was dismissed from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 following the resurfacing of old, inappropriate tweets, today Deadline is reporting that Gunn has been hired to helm the film once again.
- Gunn was initially fired from the Marvel franchise after past tweets from the director caused controversy in certain circles.
- At the time, Disney Studios president Alan Horn said, “The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him.”
- However, in an open letter to fans, the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy stood behind Gunn, with Dave Bautista being the most vocal about his displeasure with Disney’s decision.
- The Guardians cast weren’t the only folks supporting Gunn. Bobcat Goldthwait asked to be removed from an unannounced Disney show due to Gunn’s removal.
- Since being let go from Vol. 3, Gunn was actually hired by Marvel rival DC to helm the sequel Suicide Squad.
- According to Deadline, Marvel now plans to start production of Guardians after Gunn completes his work on Suicide Squad 2.
- Gunn expressed his thanks on Twitter saying “I deeply appreciate Disney’s decision”:
What they’re saying:
- Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. writes: “I’ve learned that Disney has reinstated James Gunn as the writer-director of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and I’ve confirmed it with Marvel and Gunn’s camp.”
- Mike Fleming Jr.: “There will be an inevitable chorus of those who will gripe about Gunn’s return, but creatively, Guardians will benefit from his return. The entire cast of the film was outspoken in its desire to have Gunn back, saying that those satiric tweets did not match his personal actions.”
- Fleming on Disney’s decision to rehire Gunn: “while the company will always be family first, it is somehow reassuring that there is room for second chances, and for a good director to have a chance to overcome a colossally stupid mistake.”
Gunn’s full apology:
“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time. Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.”