James Gunn Fought Back Against Including Thor in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
For a brief time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it looked like Thor would be a permanent member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
After teaming up with the Guardians during the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Thor set off into the galaxy with the ragtag team, getting back into shape and helping those in need.
“He teamed up with the Guardians of the Galaxy and set off on some classic Thor adventures,” Korg explained at the beginning of Thor: Love and Thunder.
Photo: Marvel
After the Battle of Indigarr, Thor left the guardians to assist Lady Sif and battle Gorr the God Butcher.
Overall, the Thunderer’s time with the Guardians seemed rushed, with the bulk of their adventures taking place off-screen.
Source: Marvel Studios
As it turns out, there was a good reason for this decision.
James Gunn Did Not Want Thor Around
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, James Gunn revealed that he fought back against Marvel’s addition of Thor to the Guardians of the Galaxy and did not want to include the God of Thunder in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.
“I said in the script notes: ‘I’m not gonna put him in. I don’t want to have Thor in the Guardians. And I don’t want to do a movie with Thor,’” Gunn explained. “I don’t understand the character that much. I love watching his movies and I love Chris Hemsworth as a guy, but I don’t understand how to write that character.”
As Gunn has previously explained, Thor joining the Guardians was a late addition to Avengers: Endgame, and the director had no say in the matter.
Photo: Marvel
Eventually, however, Taika Waititi added the Guardians of the Galaxy to Love and Thunder and wrapped up the short arc.
“They chose to have that ending in editing,” Gunn explained to Rolling Stone.
“And I didn’t think it was gonna be in there. ‘Endgame’ came out right after I decided to do ‘Guardians’ again. So I didn’t have much say in what was in ‘Endgame,’ and then it came out and then I was like, ‘What the fuck am I gonna do?’ That’s when [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] told me Taika’s gonna do ‘Thor,’ and we’ll have the Guardians in it. I said ‘Thank God!’ … To be completely honest, Thor was never going to be in this movie. Taika took a bullet for me. Because I was not going to have him in. I was just gonna start up and there’s no Thor.”
A Fine Resolution
In the end, everything worked out. While Thor’s time in the Guardians of the Galaxy was brief, Marvel pivoted without ruining the MCU’s continuity.
With Thor and the Guardians set to reunite for the events of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, however, the story may not be over.
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