Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is going down a murkier and broader path than the previous two films, according to writer/director James Gunn.
In a recent interview on the Hero Nation podcast, Gunn spoke from the production set in Atlanta about what fans can expect from the upcoming film. "It's big; it's so, so big and dark and different from what people might be expecting it to be," he said. He also referred to the pressure of ending the film franchise as a trilogy. "I'm aware that the third film in most trilogies sucks," he admitted with the caveat, "not always."
Though there is some pressure in creating the final installment of a trilogy, Gunn also seemed to be hinting at a big payoff for Vol. 3. "I just want to be true to the characters, the story and give people the wrap-up that they deserve for the story," he said.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe's secrecy remains in place about the film's plot, Gunn has been talking up the hard work that has been put into making the third installment a momentous one. This interview marks at least the second time he has mentioned both the darker tone of Vol. 3 and how it may challenge the audience's perception of what a Guardians film should be.
Speaking about how impressed he is with Will Poulter as Adam Warlock earlier this January, Gunn also brought up the overall tone of the film. "It's a really rough shoot because it's dark and deep and goes into all the characters," he said. More recently, while praising a different actor, Chukwudi Iwuji, for his own solid work in an as-yet-unnamed role, Gunn mentioned how viewers will be getting more than they bargained for. "It's different than what people are going to expect," he teased. "It's a hard road, but I'm really happy with it so far."
The first GotG film was highly regarded for bringing a different tone to the MCU. While jokes have always played a part in all of the films from Marvel, Gunn's script was centered on humor while also elevating the adventures of the heroes to a cosmic scale. This playful-yet-cosmic vibe helped to set the tone for other films that came after it, such as Thor: Ragnarok. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 leaned more into heavy themes, with Peter Quill/Star-Lord meeting his biological father, Ego, and seeing his adoptive father figure Yondu Udonta step up and make the ultimate sacrifice to save the hero.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters May 5, 2023.
Source: Deadline