James Gunn has confirmed via his Twitter account that the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been ready for years. 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was widely considered to be an exciting breath of fresh air in the MCU. Seemingly unconnected to the earth-bound adventures of the Avengers, the film was the first foray into Marvel’s cosmic universe, vastly expanding upon an already growing series. The antics of the Guardians were an immense critical and commercial success and suddenly elevated the Guardians into Marvel’s A-list right alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. For many, this distinct flavor was evident from the opening moments of the film, which saw Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), venture into a tomb on an ancient planet while dancing to Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love.”

In reinventing the Guardians for their cinematic debut, Gunn reworked Peter Quill’s backstory to include a powerful connection to his late human mother via their shared love of music. Through the original film, Quill carries a retro Sony Walkman and the audience hears several songs from a mixtape by his mother, Meredith Quill, titled Awesome Mix Vol. 1, which was officially released as an album alongside the film. The album made history by becoming the first soundtrack album, comprised entirely of previously released songs, to top the US Billboard 200 chart. Music subsequently became a key element of the Guardians’ brand identity with a new album featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and retro songs being used for their appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Thus, fans are eager to know what tunes may feature in the next major installment.

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Director and writer James Gunn recently responded to a fellow Twitter user, confirming that the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 has been set. Gunn put out a tweet promoting the release of The Suicide Squad soundtrack on vinyl, which he had directed in-between Guardians Vol.2 and 3. Another user replied asking if he had yet chosen the soundtrack for the upcoming film, due to be released May 5, 2023. In response, Gunn simply confirmed in two words that the tracklist had been set “for years.”

Gunn didn’t confirm any details about specific music that will be used but the fact he’s had a firm idea for so long implies they'll be integral to the story. The first movie used various needle drop moments to add meaning to the actions on screen such as when “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is used to highlight Star-Lord opening a final gift from his late mother. The sequel expands upon this via its repeated use of “Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl” to reflect Meredith Quill’s toxic romance with Peter’s celestial father, Ego, and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” which mirrors the Guardians’ bittersweet relationship with each other.

Gunn’s comments will only lead to further speculation until the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 draws closer and major marketing starts hinting at what to expect. One would assume the new soundtrack will continue the 70’s motif but it isn’t out of line to suggest we may hear more modern tunes. Quill’s Walkman was destroyed by Ego, seemingly to be replaced by a Zune, and considering the Guardians' visit to Earth in Avengers: Endgame, they may have downloaded new tracks during their stay. Gunn’s soundtrack on The Suicide Squad also utilized songs from many different decades before and after the 70s, so he clearly isn’t limited by the time period. Regardless, fans can be reassured in knowing that Awesome Mix Vol. 3 is well on its way to being another smash hit.

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Source: James Gunn