Marvel officially announced Guardians of the Galaxy as the second of their films in 2014 at Comic-Con last month, and the project is already well underway, with the studio looking to find the right person to take the helm.
Enter: James Gunn.
THR are reporting that Marvel execs are now exclusively talking with Gunn (Super, Slither), but that they haven’t ruled out other candidates in the running – Peyton Reed (Yes Man, Bring It On) and duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson) – in case talks with Gunn’s representation don’t lead to a deal.
But realistically, Gunn would of course be making a huge name for himself at the helm of a Marvel blockbuster, and it’s one that everyone will be wanting to see, for many reasons:
1) It’s part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2) It’s the first film with several non-human* protagonists.
3) It’s going to be awesome.
4) Unless things change regarding Ant-Man, it’s thought to lead directly into The Avengers 2.
As of yet, there’s no word on an official synopsis, but the following has surfaced in recent days, and looks quite credible:
“A U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants.”
The character line-up of the Guardians has changed over the decades, and this iteration will include Drax the Destroyer, a human resurrected as a green warrior with the sole purpose of killing Thanos (the villain in the Avengers final-scene tease); Groot, a giant tree-man; Star-Lord, a gun-toting half-human/half-alien intergalactic vigilante; Rocket Raccoon, a genetically engineered animal with a knack for guns and explosives; and Gamora, the last survivor of her species who was saved by Thanos to be his assassin but now battles him.
The film would mark Gunn’s third feature behind the camera, and could naturally be something of a life-changing move for him, should the deal move forward. Though Slither and Super didn’t take vast numbers at the box office, they have certainly earned Gunn a cult following, and it would be really interesting to see him get behind Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel are said to be encouraged by Gunn’s ability to blend comedy and horror/action, something which Joss Whedon has down to an art.
One of the best things about The Avengers is how genuinely funny it is, and Marvel will no doubt want to bring back the comedy element through Phase Two of their universe.
Guardians of the Galaxy is currently set for release on 1st August, 2014, following Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier through the course of 2013/14. As you can imagine, we have an amazing few years to look forward to. More as we get it.
*Thor doesn’t count, because Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are, for all intents and purposes, visually human.
