Joss Whedon believes in James Gunn’s “twisted” vision of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

While promoting his new film, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Joss Whedon discussed his thoughts on James Gunn’s vision for the upcoming Marvel Phase Two film GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.  I wasn’t entirely positive that Gunn was directing until now, although it seemed a foregone conclusion after they announced his name in the running.  Whedon seems assured in the director as he has nothing but good things to say about his work on the project. 

Check out the clip (and the transcript) below:

“James is what makes me think it will work.  I myself was sort of like, ‘Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I’m not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].’ And then they said, ‘Well, we’re thinking about using James Gunn.’ And I said, ‘Oh, then no, you’re fine.’ He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon,” said Whedon.

“This is the guy who wrote THE SPECIALS. People don’t understand how influential that movie was about heroes, about taking heroes and making them mundane,” Whedon added. “And [he directed] SUPER.”

Gunn has “barely started” on the script, but Whedon is confident in the director’s vision.  “He has a very twisted take on it, but it all comes from a real love for the material. It’s going to be hard for the humans to keep up,” said Whedon. “I know he’s going to come from left field and I’m going to go, ‘What?’ And then, ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that?’ And then I’m going to beat him!”

As an avid Marvelite, I’m still behind the curve on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, but I’m currently catching up with the trades.  It’s really fun, cheeky stuff with a heavy dose of sci-fi craziness, which makes me as confident in Gunn as Whedon is to helm the the project.  It’s going to take someone who can grasp the weirdness of it all, yet make it believable enough to fit within the Marvel cinematic universe. 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is slated to invade theaters on August 1, 2014.

BONUS: Here’s the trailer for Gunn’s THE SPECIALS.  A low-budget comedy along the lines of MYSTERY MEN, which came long before the superhero movie boom.  Interesting. Underrated.  Totally fun.