James Gunn confirmed to write/direct ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

It’s no surprise that there will be a GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. In fact, writer/director James Gunn confirmed that fact back in March. Now in a lengthy Facebook post, Gunn has confirmed that he will be the writer and director of the third chapter. He also indicates that it will arrive sometime after Avengers: Infinity War.

In a regular bit of fan engagement with his social media followers, Gunn posted a long statement about the decision make process. Addressing whether or not he would direct the next chapter of the 

“Before I was able to honestly answer this, I needed to know it was, in my heart, what I truly felt called to do. There is a history in Hollywood of haphazard endings to trilogies, and I didn’t want to become a part of that dishonorable tradition of pretending the third one doesn’t exist. I couldn’t do it for the money, and I couldn’t do it because it was what other people wanted me to do. I needed to do it because it was what I needed to do. I have never made choices in my career based on anything other than passion and love for the stories and characters, and I didn’t want to start now.

So, after many months of ruminations and discussions, I know the answer. I could save this answer for the first, random interviewer to ask me during the press junket but instead I thought I’d share it with the most important people in the Guardiansverse – you, the fans, who have been so incredibly supportive and enthusiastic over the past five years, it has moved me to tears on a regular basis.

So, yes, I’m returning to write and direct GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.

After citing his love for the characters, and praising his colleagues at Marvel and Disney, Gunn adds: “I can’t fricking wait to get started.” He then goes on to talk about the timing of the third Guardians film.

“Much of what’s happened in the MCU for the past ten or so years has been leading, in a big way, to the Avengers’ Infinity War. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will happen after all that. It will conclude the story of this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and help catapult both old and new Marvel characters into the next ten years and beyond. I will be working side-by-side with Kevin Feige and the gang to help design where these stories go, and make sure the future of the Marvel Cosmic Universe is as special and authentic and magical as what we have created so far. I promise you, the fans, I’ll do it all with integrity and love and respect for the characters.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is yet to arrive in cinemas, due out in Australia on 24 April 2017 and in the US on 5 May 2017, from Disney.