Shortly after Marvel revealed their Phase 4 plans at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that AVENGERS: ENDGAME had finally overtaken James Cameron's AVATAR as the highest-grossing film of all time. Once the numbers were confirmed, many celebrated the milestone moment with congratulatory posts via social media, including GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 helmer James Gunn.
While Gunn did not serve as the director of AVENGERS: ENDGAME his overall contributions to the Marvel brand via Guardians of the Galaxy have certainly played a vital role in the film's success. In truth, anyone who's ever worked on an MCU installment deserves at least partial recognition, as there would be no Endgame without a decade's worth of thrilling films belonging to the Marvel pantheon. Cheers all around, I say, and thank you for your talent, dedication, and hard work.
As it happens, if you scroll through the comments of Gunn's Instagram post, you'll find that a fan asked him whether THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER will take place before or after GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. "It takes place before," said Gunn, finally confirming the timeline for both films.
Now, with Guradians Vol. 3 taking place before the events of Taika Waititi's THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER – which will see Natalie Portman's Jane Foster taking up the mantle to become Mighty Thor – one has to wonder if Gunn's next chapter will feature Hemsworth as a part of the cast. I say this because the concept of an ASGARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was teased by Thor himself in Marvel's AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR.
Now, I'm not saying that this is a thing that is happening, but wouldn't it be great to have more cosmic adventures featuring Thor and his rabbit companion, Rocket Raccoon? I personally loved the chemistry of those two characters in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS: ENDGAME, and would jump at the chance to see them team up for another film. Plus, the ongoing dick measruing contest between Quill and Thor would make for some brilliant comedic beats, don't you think?
Obviously, it's going to be a while before we hear of anymore details related to either film. That being the case, this is best possible time to speculate wildly with regard to how either movie will turn out. Is Star-Lord capable of winning Gamora's affections yet again? Will Jane's absence from the MCU be explained by using story beats from Jason Aaron's transformative Mighty Thor comic book series? We'll have to wait to find out, but oh man, what a time to be a Marvel fan!