James Gunn Uncertain About Guardians Future Amid DC Universe Focus

James Gunn, the mastermind behind Marvel’s beloved Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, might be stepping away from his intergalactic team for good.

Now co-CEO of DC Studios and busy launching a new DC Universe, Gunn recently shared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he’s uncertain about his future with the Guardians.

Gunn opened up about the creative projects he had in mind while still working with Marvel. “There’s so many [ideas] we wanted to explore but didn’t get around to,” he revealed. Among these were a Ravagers spin-off, a Legendary Star-Lord solo adventure, and a Rocket & Groot project. The latter, Gunn noted, was particularly close to his heart. “To be honest, Rocket & Groot is what Guardians 3 was. I wanted to do Rocket & Groot first, but I was talked into doing Guardians 3 instead. I knew I needed to tell Rocket’s story.”

When asked if he’s legally obligated to return to the Guardians franchise, Gunn confessed he’s unsure. “I don’t know the exact legal answer. I’m not sure what the answer is,” he admitted. Despite the uncertainty, Gunn gave his full support to the cast and future projects. “Chris [Pratt] has my blessing, they all have my blessing. Chris keeps saying, ‘Is this okay?’ and I’m like dude, whatever, I’m totally okay with whatever you do. You go do it. I would love to see him be Star-Lord again.”

Although Marvel hasn’t announced any new Guardians-specific movies or TV shows, fans shouldn’t count the team out just yet. The franchise still has a place in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, meaning potential crossovers in upcoming films, including the Avengers sequels. Plus, Marvel has two mystery projects slated for 2026—could one of these spotlight the Guardians?

If the Guardians return, the team’s lineup will look a little different. Karen Gillan has expressed interest in reprising her role as Nebula, while Pratt has said he’s open to more Peter Quill adventures if the script is right. However, Zoe Saldaña confirmed to Total Film Magazine that Vol. 3 marked her final appearance as Gamora. Meanwhile, new characters introduced in Vol. 3 have been officially named as part of the Guardians team, hinting at fresh storylines for the future.

For now, all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies are streaming on Disney+. The next MCU film, Captain America: Brave New World, premieres on February 14, 2025.