The director of Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy films, who had been fired in July 2018 after offensive tweets from the filmmaker resurfaced online, according to recent reports, Disney has reinstated James Gunn as director of Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
Marvel Studios put Guardians 3 on hold, though Marvel head Kevin Feige and others involved have maintained they intended to make the film happen. Guardians 3 never had a release date, but Gunn previously said it would open in 2020.
After the news broke, Gunn — who has been silent on Twitter since his firing — tweeted a statement. “I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months,” Gunn wrote on Twitter Friday.
“I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be. I deeply appreciate Disney’s decision and I am excited to continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all. I have been, and continue to be, incredibly humbled by your love and support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love to you all.”
After Gunn was fired, he moved on to Warner Bros. and DC to write and direct The Suicide Squad, which stars Idris Elba and will release in August, 2021. According to sources, Gunn plans on doing both films, with The Suicide Squad coming out first.
