James Gunn has a big plan for the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie franchise. With the recent news that Gunn will return to direct the third film in the series -- an announcement that came before the second film, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” even hit theaters -- the director has come forward to clarify that the trilogy of films is building towards one big, singular story. In fact, that’s always been the way Gunn has envisioned it.

Gunn confirmed as much in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly at the “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” premiere.

“I think really that the three movies work together as a whole, they’re going to tell one story,” Gunn said. “This is the story of this iteration of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ and we’re going to get to know the characters even better in the same way we got to know them much better in this film than the first one.”

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According to the director, the plan to tell a trilogy-encompassing narrative started the moment he was offered the job.

“I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t have a fairly clear idea of where we were going and what we were going to do,” Gunn said. “I’m not a guy that’s just going to do it if I don’t have a vision for it. So, I’m very excited.”

Gunn has directed both “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, starting with the first in 2014. That film introduced audiences to the adventurer Peter Quill, who goes from a young boy mourning the loss of his mother to becoming the spacefaring hero Star-Lord in short order.

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The follow-up to that film, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” releases early in May and looks to continue the legend of Star-Lord and his super team compatriots, the Guardians of the Galaxy. The film takes place three months after the events of the first movie and sees the team going up against a race of genetically perfect aliens, while also taking time to answer the burning question of Star-Lord’s parentage.

Debuting in theaters on May 5, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a production of Marvel Studios directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Vin Diesel as Baby Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha and Kurt Russell as Ego.