Thor: Love and Thunder is set to release before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and according to James Gunn, its story will also take place earlier too. This news follows a rush of new announcements made during San Diego Comic-Con as the Marvel Cinematic Universe pushes into Phase 4.
Kevin Feige showed off a a number of slated film and TV projects that will usher in the next era of the MCU. One major entry in Phase 4 will be Thor: Love and Thunder. Taika Waititi will return to direct, and perhaps to reprise his role as Thor's buddy Korg, following his success with Thor: Ragnarok. Chris Hemsworth will once again take up the mantle of Thor alongside Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, and Natalie Portman will make her long-awaited return as Dr. Jane Foster, Thor's love interest and the new Mighty Thor. The story will take place after the climactic events of Avengers: Endgame. Given how Thor ended that film alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy, flying off to adventures unknown in the depths of space, some fans were curious whether or not the new Thor film would take place before or after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Now, the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films has come in to clarify things. When asked on Instagram if the next Thor film would be set before or after the next installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Gunn (via @Broadlock0 on Twitter) answered with a simple and blunt "Before." Though his answer was very clear, it didn't address whether or not Thor will be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, or if perhaps the Guardians will appear in Thor: Love and Thunder.
This all follows a rough time for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise that saw Gunn be fired and then re-hired in a series of controversies. Even though he claimed to have had a script ready for some time, and even with the financial and critical success of the first two films, Gunn was unable to begin work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 immediately. Now things are back on track with Gunn returning as director, but he has to finish directing the sequel to Suicide Squad before he can focus on the MCU.
For many, one of the highlights of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was seeing Thor team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Ever since the Asgardian became the the subject of Star-Lord's jealous barbs, they seemed like a perfect fit. Fans have been wondering whether or not the thunder god's next adventure would see him frolicking around with the ragtag space heroes ever since they flew off together at the end of Avengers: Endgame. While that time may come, it probably won't be the subject of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Source: James Gunn/Instagram (via @Broadlock0/Twitter)
