James Gunn shares behind-the-scenes images from the first Guardians of the Galaxy to celebrate the film's 8-year anniversary. Released in 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy introduced audiences to what was, at the time, a somewhat niche team of Marvel superheroes. The film, which features Chris Pratt in the starring role of Star-Lord, was a hit both critically and commercially, earning over $772 million at the box office.

Guardians of the Galaxy ultimately proved so successful that the superhero team not only appeared in a sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but also in a number of other MCU projects. After appearing in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the Guardians team was most recently featured in Thor: Love and Thunder alongside Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder. Gunn is set to return to the MCU once more with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is being billed as a farewell to the fan-favorite band of heroes, including Pratt's Star-Lord, Dave Bautista's Drax, Zoe Saldana's Gamora, Bradley Cooper's Rocket, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan's Nebula, and Vin Diesel's Groot.

Related: Where The Guardians Of The Galaxy Go In Thor: Love And Thunder

In a new tweet, Gunn celebrates the 8-year anniversary of the release of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Gunn says that the film ended up changing his life and the tweet features a handful of behind-the-scenes pictures from the film's production. One picture shows Pratt wearing his iconic Star-Lord mask, while another features a closer look at the Orb. A third image sees Gunn with his brother, Sean, and Michael Rooker. Gunn Check out Gunn's tweet below:

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While Gunn had a relatively successful career before the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, making a name for himself in Hollywood by directing films like Slither and Super and writing others like Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead, the filmmaker's career reached new heights after the release of his first MCU entry. Not only has he continued to work in the MCU with the Guardians of the Galaxy sequels and the upcoming holiday special, but the writer/ director has also since branched into the DC universe with The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. In many ways, the first Guardians of the Galaxy film is responsible for making Gunn the acclaimed and beloved filmmaker he is today.

It remains to be seen how he will conclude his trilogy with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but the first film in the franchise evidently holds a special place in Gunn's heart. For many fans, the first Guardians of the Galaxy film remains a highlight of the MCU as a whole, with the film's unique tone setting it apart from its contemporaries. Although audiences will be sad to say goodbye to the Guardians of the Galaxy in the upcoming third installment, Gunn's tweet serves as a reminder that fans have now had eight exciting years with the characters.

More: Why Gamora Is With The Ravagers In Guardians Of The Galaxy 3

Source: James Gunn/ Twitter