Director James Gunn has again confirmed he has no plans for a sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3.
Gunn insisted that Guardians 3 is "the end for us, the last time people will see this team of Guardians" during a recent episode of Deadline's Hero Nation podcast. "I just want to be true to the characters, the story and give people the wrap-up that they deserve for the story... That’s always a little bit scary; I'm doing my best." The director also reiterated his belief that Guardians 3 will confound audience expectations, stating, "It's big; it’s so, so big and dark, and different from what people might be expecting it to be."
This marks the third time Gunn has publicly commented on the future of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. In September 2019, Gunn's response to a fan on Instagram who asked him how many Guardians sequels he had lined up was clear, concise "1 more." Then, in August 2021, Gunn remarked in an interview, "I'm a guy who never says never because I've seen too many people say never and be pulled back into the fray... But I see it as being my last Guardians movie."
Gunn also revealed he's keenly aware that most blockbuster trilogies end on a bum note. Addressing Hollywood's dubious track record of weak third installments, Gunn remained optimistic that Guardians 3 could buck this trend, saying, "I’m aware that the third film in most trilogies sucks; not always."
Guardians 3 will cap off a franchise that has proved wildly successful both critically and commercially for Marvel Studios. Combined, the first two films have grossed $1.6 billion at the box office, and both currently hold "Certified Fresh" status on Rotten Tomatoes. The franchise has also spawned a spinoff TV special, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, set for release on Disney+ later this year.
The upcoming sequel will see the return of the franchise's core cast, including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff and Vin Diesel, as well as the introduction of a major new character, Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter. Saldana and fellow returning cast member Sylvester Stallone recently shared sneak peek images hyping the return of Gamora and Ravager anti-hero Stakar Ogord, further fuelling fan anticipation for this eagerly awaited final chapter.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 blasts its way into theaters on May 5, 2023.
Source: Deadline