Gunngate: Day 21. Three weeks after James Gunn was fired from Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 3 by Disney – causing a backlash that’s threatening to upend the film altogether – it turns out Gunn hasn’t technically been fired at all. Yet.
While Gunn likely didn’t have a “pay or play” clause in his contract (at least not one that could be enforced this far from production), he had been hired to write and direct the film, and was also working on Phase 4 for Marvel in another capacity, presumably as a script consultant. Gunn is apparently still negotiating his final exit from Disney and, at least at the moment, he still works there.
The most tantalizing aspect of this anonymously sourced information from THR is that there is allegedly some murmurs that a reconciliation between Gunn and Disney could be still reached. It’s unclear whether these are hopes on the side of Gunn’s lawyers or whispers inside the Disney camp, but according to one quoted source, “An end-all verdict hasn’t been issued and conversations with Marvel are still ongoing.”
Are Disney backtracking now that they realise they might have sunk a key part of the MCU? Unlikely. However dubiously the original scandal started, they made their position very clear from the start. At the end of the day, Disney’s family friendly brand is worth much more money than another Guardians sequel.
Still, Gunn’s future is looking brighter by the day. According to The Hollywood Reporter, rival studios are already circling the director – waiting for his Disney deal to seal so they can pick him up instead.
Noting several unnamed studio executives and Oscar winning producers – while name-dropping Warner Bros. and Lionsgate later in the piece – the report says many are eager and enthusiastic to work with Gunn, including on future tentpole projects and possible franchises. One senior executive is even quoted as saying “I’d work with him in a heartbeat”.
Is Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 3 still even a possibility? Could Gunn be headed to Warner Bros. to direct a DC movie? Would that be the ultimate slap in the face for Disney?
Gunngate continues…