Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is about to hit our screens and speculation has already been intense as to what the next step in the story might be, and whether James Gunn, who has shepherded the movies to date, would return for more given the heavy time commitment they take to make. But, hitting Facebook on Monday, he has announced that he's on board for a third film.
The typically effusive and communicative writer/director went straight to the fanbase with the news, pre-empting any press enquiries about his future with the franchise during the junket. "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.
"In the end, my love for Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Star-Lord, Yondu, Mantis, Drax, and Nebula – and some of the other forthcoming heroes – goes deeper than you guys can possibly imagine, and I feel they have more adventures to go on and things to learn about themselves and the wonderful and sometimes terrifying universe we all inhabit. And, like in both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, we will work on creating the story that goes beyond what you expect. I can’t fricking wait to get started.
"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 10 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."
So now we know he'll be back, the next question sure is... when? The MCU has a fairly crowded release schedule, but if Gunn keeps to a similar break between films, we wouldn't expect Vol. 3 much before 2020 anyway... Vol. 2 will be out in the UK on 28 April before hitting US screens on 5 May. To read Gunn's full Facebook post, click here.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: See Three Exclusive New Images
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: Exclusive Look At Star-Lord And Drax