No MCU Reboot After Avengers 4

Screen Rant

James Gunn Dispels Rumors of MCU Reboot After Avengers 4

By Ana Dumaraog

Published Jul 18, 2017

James Gunn debunks the suggestion of a total reboot of the MCU after Avengers 4, saying at the very least the Guardians of the Galaxy are safe.

James Gunn squashes ongoing rumors of a Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot after the untitled Avengers 4. Right now, little is known for Avengers 4 as everybody's interest is still on its predecessor due next year, Avengers: Infinity War. The two films were initially supposed to be parts 1 and 2 of the Infinity War narrative, but directors Joe and Anthony Russo (who are directing both films after their success with the last two Captain America movies) decided to separate the project explaining that while the films are still connected, having them as a two-parter is kind of misleading.

What we do know about the second "part" is that it's going to be the culmination of the series' 22-film arc up until that point and that the MCU landscape will be very different afterwards, with Kevin Feige suggesting there might not even be a Phase 4. This has led to speculation the film will serve as something of a reboot, although James Gunn - who is currently working on Guardians of the Galaxy 3 due for release after Avengers 4 - has shot that down.

The filmmaker was asked on Twitter about the rumors by a fan and responded in the negative: "Not true. The Guardians, at least, will continue on," he writes.

Not true. The Guardians, at least, will continue on. https://t.co/pbFpUKXM8i— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 18, 2017

While some fans are no doubt relieved that the franchise will honor its past films moving forward, that's still not to say that there will not be significant changes in the MCU past Phase 3. The recent D23 Expo footage from Infinity War is hinting towards doom to the superheroes with the threat of Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his minions. Even Feige has recently said that several principal cast members will meet their end in the film. So it is safe to say that there will be some ramifications that lead to a very different Phase 4. After all, Gunn's primarily talking here about the Guardians continuing - there's nothing about the state of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Of course, at least publically, Feige himself doesn't want to think that far ahead. He's explained that he and the rest of the Marvel still have a long way to go with six more films on the docket (Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Infinity War, Ant-Man & the Wasp, Captain Marvel and Avengers 4) before this current chapter of the MCU book is finally wrapped up and they want to focus their energy on those projects first.

With Infinity War at the tail-end of production, Marvel Studios and the Russos gearing up to start principal photography for Avengers 4. Recent casting rumor hints that the Yakuza may have a part in the untitled film, but it is still uncertain how they will fit in the cosmic narrative that the MCU is currently tackling.