When the news broke that Slither and Super director James Gunn was a top contender to direct Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, it almost seemed too good to be true. A director known for his individual and very strange tastes, taking on a Marvel project that look pretty bizarre to begin with? It was an even bolder move than hiring Kenneth Branagh to direct Thor, or Joss Whedon for The Avengers, and it seemed worth wondering if something so out-there could ever actually pan out.
But never fear, Slither fans! Your man Gunn has confirmed at last that, yes, he really does have the job. Posting on his Facebook page, Gunn wrote that Marvel President Kevin Feige gave him the go-ahead to reveal that he'll be rewriting and directing Guardians, which is currently set for release August 1, 2014. Here's what else he had to say:
As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited. I am also incredibly grateful to the fans and the press for all their words of encouragement and support regarding my involvement with this project since the news first leaked. Thanks – you have, honestly, touched and overwhelmed me. And that’s it for now. Other than the occasional photos of my dog and cat here on Facebook, I’ll talk to you again in August 2014 when Guardians is released!
Gunn, who has never made a film that made more than $10 million, has an enormous job ahead of him, but Marvel Studios has proven surprisingly adept at working with less experienced directors and helping them deliver projects that, almost every single time, work out better than you'd ever expect. Gunn is likely to be in radio silence as he develops the story-- those pesky Marvel people and their love of secrecy!-- but, with a release date less than two years away, it won't be all that long before we start seeing just what he and Guardians have in store for us.
