Although the release of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR seems like somewhat of a finale to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are still several films left to go in Phase Three. As for where the franchise will go beyond Phase Three, well, the sky's the limit, but one of the films which we do know is on the way is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. Although the sequel is still several years out, Chris Pratt already knows the story, which is something he gleefully spilled while speaking with Entertainment Tonight Canada recently.
The actor said that GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 writer/director James Gunn has shared the story with him, which he calls "freaking amazing" as it will bring the trilogy to a close.
This is very intentionally, essentially, the wrap up of a trilogy. The first film, the second film, the third film, each are standalone films, but there is an arc from the first to second to third that will wrap up during the course of this film. It's imaginative, it's bigger, better, faster, stronger, funnier. It's going to be great, I'm so excited.
This lines up with what James Gunn has said in the past: "We’re going to come to an epic conclusion of who the Guardians are and why they were brought together, and I can’t wait to tell that story to the people." Gunn stated. "It will be the final, in this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy."
We'll be seeing the Guardians of the Galaxy in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, and Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana admitted to ET Canada that they were initially concerned about how they were going to work without James Gunn directing them as he had on the first film and its sequel. "I feel like we were able to bring our flair, the thing that makes the Guardians of the Galaxy special, into this movie, which is what audiences want to see," Pratt said, with Saldana adding that "The Russo's were very collaborative and they very respectful. They were our directors, they did direct us, but not about the tonality of our characters, but the tonality of the beats that were a part of the plot and the scene. They were never about changing who Gamora is and her essence."
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 will debut in 2020.