The idea that Disney might not make a third movie in the Guardian of the Galaxy series, which has grossed more than $1.6 billion worldwide, would have seemed ridiculous less than a year ago. But when writer/director James Gunn was fired by the studio after offensive tweets he made nearly a decade ago resurfaced, it threw the fate of the Guardian of the Galaxy Vol.3 into uncertainty. However, star Chris Pratt has now commented on the future of the series.
Pratt was asked about the status of Vol.3 by Variety, and he assured fans that the movie will happen. “I promise there'll be a third movie," he said. "I don't know exactly what that's going to look like, but I know everyone on board is just eager to give the fans what they want and wrap up a trilogy in a meaningful way."
While Vol.3 was never given a release date by Marvel, it was expected to go into production in early 2019 ahead of a 2020 release. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax and was the most outspoken about Gunn's firing, stated in August that the movie was "on hold indefinitely," and and he had no interest in appearing in the movie if Gunn was not involved. Pratt and the rest of the cast offered Gunn their support, but stopped short of asking for him to be rehired. Whatever happens, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi won't be working on the movie.
In October last year, it was announced that Gunn had been hired by Marvel's rival DC to write a reboot of Suicide Squad. Last week, it was confirmed the movie, titled The Suicide Squad, will hit theaters on August 6, 2021. It has also been reported that Gunn is in negotiations to direct the movie, and that it will "take the franchise in a new direction with a mostly all-new cast of characters and actors."
Whether the third Guardians movie happens or not, we will definitely see some of the cast in the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. The much-anticipated follow-up to Avengers: Infinity War is released in April, and a new trailer was screened during last weekend's Superbowl.