James Gunn Reveals His Reasons For Keeping Chris Hemsworth’s Thor Out Of Guardians Vol. 3, And I Understand His Logic
When Avengers: Endgame ended with Thor hitching a trip aboard the Milano, many followers assumed they’d see the God of Thunder getting cozy with the Guardians of the Galaxy of their subsequent journey. Nevertheless, when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (which you’ll stream with a Disney+ subscription) rolled into theaters, Thor was M.I.A. So, what offers? In line with James Gunn, the reply is refreshingly trustworthy and surprisingly private.
In an unique interview with EW as a part of their Superman cowl story, Gunn defined that his determination to maintain Thor out of Guardians Vol. 3 wasn’t about contracts, tone clashes, or franchise fatigue. It got here down to at least one easy fact: he simply didn’t join with the character. He defined to the outlet:
I stated within the script notes: ‘I’m not gonna put him in. I don’t need to have Thor within the Guardians. I don’t need to do a film with Thor.’ I don’t perceive the character that a lot. I love watching his films and I love Chris Hemsworth as a man. I do not perceive how you can write that character.
It’s uncommon to listen to a director admit they’re not the fitting match for a well-liked superhero film character, particularly one performed by considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. However the Tremendous director has at all times marched to his personal “cosmic” beat. His Guardians trilogy has by no means been about ticking bins or following traits, making them a number of the greatest Marvel films. As an alternative, it’s centered on emotionally damaged oddballs studying to turn out to be a household, and Vol. 3 stayed true to that mission with none thunderbolts or hammers in sight.
This wasn’t Gunn’s first time wrestling with the ripple results of interconnected cinematic universes, both. In the identical interview, he talked candidly in regards to the problems of planting seeds in post-credit scenes that later turn out to be storytelling burdens. He pointed to the Adam Warlock tease on the finish of Guardians Vol. 2 as a first-rate instance. Whereas he finally loved working with the actor, integrating Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock into Vol. 3 wasn’t precisely seamless. The Slither screenwriter added:
I didn’t like what I did in Guardians 2, the place we arrange Adam Warlock and we arrange the Guardians of the Galaxy and we arrange all this s— that I did not essentially plan on. Effectively, I guess I type of deliberate on fulfilling that promise, however you need to watch out about that. The best way a post-credits scene works is a punch to the face, like, ‘Oh my God! Take a look at this.’ At instances while you’re utilizing it simply solely to set one thing up, typically you are screwing your self over. It was not straightforward to work Adam Warlock into Guardians 3. I liked working with Will, and I preferred coping with the character, however on the finish of the day, was he type of becoming a bizarre sq. peg right into a spherical gap? A little bit bit, yeah.
The takeaway? Simply because a crossover appears good in idea doesn’t imply it belongs within the story. Gunn’s refusal to shoehorn Thor into the narrative displays a broader ethos that’s shaping his work at DC Studios and the slate of upcoming DC films. His Superman will function a post-credits scene, however solely as a result of it serves the story, not as a result of it checks a franchise field.
James Gunn’s model of storytelling might not have at all times adopted the blueprint we anticipate upcoming Marvel films to stick to, but it surely was at all times rooted in intention. And that could be what makes his work stand out. Relatively than driving the momentum of a viral team-up, he selected to remain centered on what Guardians Vol. 3 wanted to say, and who it wanted to say it by. And due to that, we acquired a fantastic film.
Now, I cannot wait to see what he makes subsequent, because the July 11 launch of Superman is true across the nook on the 2025 film schedule.
