Why James Gunn Was Going to Quit Directing Before Guardians of the Galaxy

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As a die-hard fan here, I can’t help but share an intriguing tale about James Gunn, the creative genius behind “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the soon-to-be Superman in DC universe. In a recent conversation, he opened up about moments when he contemplated leaving the director’s chair before Marvel came knocking. He vividly described his career crossroads, the unexpected call from Marvel, and how a “chatterbox raccoon” turned the tide in an instant.

James Gunn explains how he got hired to direct Guardians of the Galaxy

In a fresh video for GQ, named “James Gunn Dissects His Most Memorable Movies,” the filmmaker shared that he had considered quitting movie-making altogether, until Marvel came knocking with the offer for Guardians of the Galaxy.

Gunn admitted that he found himself at a peculiar point in his career, feeling somewhat disheartened. This was following the release of his 2010 film ‘Super,’ and after completing a video game named ‘Lollipop Chainsaw.’ He also mentioned working on a TV show, expressing to his agent his intention to stop making films.

Gunn stated that he got the Marvel offer for Guardians of the Galaxy just a short while after making his decision. Upon entering, they said, “We’ve got this project called Guardians of the Galaxy.” He acknowledged that he had heard of them but was more knowledgeable about the original team. At first, he was skeptical about the project, commenting, “It seemed like Bugs Bunny amidst The Avengers… I left without expecting to be part of it.

During the journey home, his perspective shifted significantly. He realized that if Rocket Raccoon truly existed, he would be the most melancholic creature in the whole universe… this epiphany marked the start of the Guardians’ story for him. Rocket took center stage as an emotional focal point in Gunn’s trilogy. The director even admitted that Rocket was a character he felt more connected to than any other character he had ever filmed.

In a candid moment, Gunn revealed that Marvel had assigned him the job of outlining the characteristics of the Infinity Stones. “I came up with the concept of the Infinity Stones in just a couple of seconds,” he confessed. The initial stone featured in Guardians was red, but later on, Marvel requested a change to purple during post-production for consistency purposes.

Pondering over the series, Gunn pointed out that Rocket’s transformation, from solitude to empathy, was the heart of the trilogy. “And it’s this change that makes him the commander of the Guardians by the end of the third installment,” Gunn added.

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2025-07-10 08:10