Update:
Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista took to his Twitter account to express his interest in joining Gunn in the new Suicide Squad sequel.
James Gunn has taken up a new side. The former director of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has reportedly signed on with Warner Bros. to write DC’s upcoming Suicide Squad sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
- Gunn has signed on to write the superhero (or supervillain, as it were) sequel and could negotiate for directorial duties as well.
- As you’ll recall, Gunn was fired by Disney and Marvel back in July after having directed two Guardians films and serving as an executive producer on Avengers: Infinity War.
- Suicide Squad, DC’s 2016 anti-hero action adventure, starred Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jared Leto and Joel Kinnaman, all of whom are rumored to return for the sequel.
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is also rumored to appear in the sequel.
- There are currently no plot details or release date set for the sequel.
- This isn’t the first time a Marvel helmer has made the leap to DC — Avengers director Joss Whedon was brought on board to help complete Justice League after Zack Snyder stepped away due to a family emergency.
Catch Up Quick – The James Gunn Saga:
- In July, Disney and Marvel severed their ties with the Guardians of the Galaxy director after controversial tweets from Gunn resurfaced and drew attention.
- Shortly after Disney’s decision, Bobcat Goldthwait, the voice of Pain in Disney’s Hercules, asked that his voice be removed from an unannounced version of World of Color.
- The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy penned an open letter voicing their support for Gunn, sharing their thoughts on the events that saw his removal, and calling for his reinstatement as director of Vol. 3.
- In early August, Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista, who plays the fan-favorite character Drax, suggested he would attempt to quit the franchise if Vol. 3 doesn’t at least utilize Gunn’s script.
- A few weeks later, THR reported that Disney and Marvel were putting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on hold.
- In September, Gunn’s brother Sean, who plays the on-set Rocket Raccoon as well as Kraglin in the films, told Tulsa World that Marvel was planning to use his brother’s script for Vol. 3.