Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Is A Heavier Story, Says James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy director, James Gunn, reveals that the upcoming third film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a heavier story than its predecessors. The original movie debuted in 2014 and quickly became a smash hit, grossing nearly $800 million worldwide. Viewers and critics lauded the film for its irreverent and exuberant take on the superhero genre, particularly its tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a protagonist who openly toed the line between heroism and chaos. Featuring an ensemble cast of misfits, the titular leads included Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper Dave Bautista, and Vin Diesel. In 2017, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 reached theaters and earned over $860 million, significantly surpassing the blockbuster success of the first installment. The third film is slated for a 2023 release.

In Guardians of the Galaxy, renegade Peter Quill traverses outer space as a savvy thief and scavenger. After stealing an unknown orb, he is ambushed by other criminals with similar skills, including the unconventional duo, Rocket and Groot, and the assassin Gamora. Imprisoned for the violent skirmish, the group runs into Drax the Destroyer. Eventually, they all form a tenuous alliance, working together to defeat Ronan the Accuser and earning the shared title of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” In the sequel, the titular group inadvertently witnesses the reunion between Peter and his long-lost father Ego, a formidable god with celestial power. During this time, Peter and Gamora finally admit their feelings for each other. However, everything is left up in the air after the events of 2019's Avengers: Endgame.

During an interview with EW, Gunn shared information about the script for the third film. Revealing that the story has been locked for a while, he also said that the movie will handle a deeper storyline. Read Gunn's full comment below:

For Guardians 3, the script has basically been written for a long time. I've been playing with it in little ways over the years, but it's basically stayed the same since three years ago. It's pretty heavy actually. It's a heavier story, so it's an emotional process to go through.

Although not much is known about the overall plot of the third film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will deal with the ramifications of all the losses the Guardians experienced in Avengers: Endgame. In the 2019 movie, the superheroes used the Infinity Stones to travel back in time to reverse the devastating actions that Thanos set in motion. One of the most heart-breaking crimes Thanos perpetrated included murdering his surrogate daughter, Gamora, in cold blood. However, during her time travel journey, Nebula reunites with the 2014 version of Gamora, who eventually returns to present-day with her sister. Although Peter is thrilled to see her, 2014-Gamora has no memories of their time together.

Considering all that has transpired in the MCU since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the unresolved tension between Peter and 2014-Gamora likely offers up some clues as to what will be explored in the next chapter. Much of their story together has essentially been erased, which is certainly an upsetting reality for the Guardians. Moreover, 2014-Gamora must grapple with a whole new life that she never truly experienced, perhaps inciting her own turmoil and confusion. In light of these facts, it makes sense that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 might indeed be more serious in tone as the titular heroes face a complicated set of truths.

More: Why Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Needs To Finish Nebula's Arc

Source: EW