Marvel Studios' upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has become the third Marvel Cinematic Universe film to secure a release date in China, following several years of what has been described as a virtual ban on the majority of Hollywood films.On social media, director James Gunn responded to the announcement of GotG Vol. 3's day-and-date release, writing "[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3] opening in China May 5. I'm so happy that our friends in China can enjoy the movie in theaters at the same time as the rest of the world!"
The Guardians of the Galaxy Try Their Luck in China
The final instalment in Gunn's Guardians trilogy follows Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the more recent Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in gaining the green light from the China Film Administration, which is responsible for censoring and overseeing the importation of foreign films. Over the last two years, Chinese authorities placed an unofficial ban on Hollywood films, including instalments of the MCU ranging from Black Widow to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, providing no official explanation as to why.
It is believed that the ban was part of a significant cultural shift, with emphasis being placed on nationalism and domestically produced films. While Disney and Marvel Studios' films have been allowed to re-enter the territory, they do not appear to be enjoying the same level of success as they generally did prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and CCP's centennial in 2021. Wakanda Forever, for example, earned just $15 million in China upon release, while Quantumania has thus far earned $39 million. For comparison, 2018's Black Panther grossed $105 million, while Ant-Man and the Wasp earned $121 million.
What Fans Know About James Gunn's Final MCU Film
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marks Gunn's final MCU project, as the filmmaker was appointed co-CEO of DC Studios, tasked with shaping the rebranded DCU. In addition, Vol. 3 will also see actor Dave Bautista's final performance as Drax the Destroyer. The actor previously discussed the "storybook ending" to Drax's arc in the upcoming film, stating, "I just got to end it in a perfect way, and I would never sign up for another job as Drax just to get a paycheck, I wouldn’t tarnish that and I won’t do it."
Details concerning Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 are scarce. However, it has been confirmed that the film will finally see the introduction of Adam Warlock, who was teased in a post-credits scene for Vol. 2 in 2017. Gunn previously confirmed that this version of Warlock is still young and is not a hero. "He’s definitely not a good guy. What we're seeing is the infant form of Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He's basically a baby," the director explained.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 5, 2023.
Source: Twitter