Director James Gunn reveals Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was originally supposed to hit theaters this month. Gunn worked as writer/director on the franchise’s acclaimed first two installments which released in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was meant to begin production in 2018 until Disney/Marvel Studios fired Gunn due to controversy over some old tweets.

Following Gunn’s dramatic exit, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was delayed indefinitely. However, many of Gunn’s fans and colleagues rallied behind the filmmaker via petitions, signed statements, and hashtags in hopes that Marvel would rehire Gunn. The situation was further complicated when Gunn signed on to write and direct DC’s The Suicide Squad, seemingly filling the filmmaker’s schedule. Due to overwhelming fan support and against all odds, Marvel eventually reversed their decision and reinstated Gunn.

Related: Thor 4 Should Introduce Adam Warlock, NOT Guardians of the Galaxy 3

As a lover of the genre, Gunn is one of the main reasons the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise has been so successful. This is ultimately why Marvel decided to bring him back on despite all the delays that have occurred/will occur. Gunn will not begin work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 until he has completed The Suicide Squad (which he was editing from home). Tuesday, Gunn took to Twitter to correct a tweet from AMC Theatres suggesting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would release in 2021. After saying that the movie (which hasn’t even begun filming) "won’t be in theaters until a little after 2021," Gunn posted a follow-up tweet revealing the film’s original release date:

At one point, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 held Black Widow’s spot in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The aforementioned behind-the-scenes drama and reworking of Marvel’s slate due to the coronavirus pandemic have made Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 part of Phase 5, with no official release date attached to it. Depending upon how things develop, the film should begin production in 2021 and if fans are lucky, fill Marvel’s October, 2022 slot.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will explore post-Avengers: Endgame plot threads. The end of that film saw the Guardians, along with fat and aimless Thor, preparing to take off in the Benatar. Missing from the crew was Gamora who not only died in Avengers: Infinity War but had her younger self brought to the current MCU timeline. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. could see Star-Lord attempt to connect with this other Gamora will simultaneously bickering with the God of Thunder about leadership (relating to Thor: Love and Thunder). Regardless, the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy will look much different than the film fans might’ve gotten this month.

More: Marvel Theory: Where Gamora Went After Avengers: Endgame

Source: James Gunn/Twitter