Earlier today saw Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn participate in a QnA on Facebook.
Below you can check out some of Gunn’s answers which range from topics including Guardians of the Galaxy, a sequel to Slither and Super, directing Star Wars or Star Trek, directing Avengers 3, favorite comic characters and lots more.
James Gunn is currently busy writing Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which has a May 5, 2017 release.
Question: I don’t know if it’s already been asked, but who would be your ideal actress for the role of Captain Marvel? (Dream Casting, I don’t want to intrude on the secrecy of Marvel.)
James Gunn: Paula Poundstone. I don’t know. I don’t think about casting movie characters who aren’t in my movies. Here’s the thing – a character takes on a lot of new attributes in a script, so I don’t think anyone but the filmmakers know who would be the ideal actress or actor for any role. I remember everyone sending me casting ideas for Rocket and I was, like, you guys, he’s a somewhat different in my movie than he’s been in the comics. He has a very particular way of speaking, so you don’t really know who the best casting is.
Without spoling anything what would you say is the prevailing theme of Guardians 2?
SIT IN THE CORNER.
Was the decision to put Howard the Duck in Guardians a personal decision or will we be seeing more Howard across the Marvel cinematic universe?
It was a personal decision.
Mr gunn wud u want al Pacino in GOTG 2..
Only if we had the right role for him.
Hey James… any plans to visit England soon?
Maybe. I might have a reason to go in the near future.
Would you be interested in directing the next Star Trek movie if you were approached and are you a Star Trek fan?
I like Star Trek, but I would definitely not be interested in directing a Star Trek movie.
Do you think movie theaters will continue to evolve and improve or will home theater/streaming take over?
Both. The movie going experience is becoming more centralized around spectacle films and lower-budgeted, more independent films, are being relegated to home theater (and eaten up by quality TV).
Will you PLEASE write & direct the Toxic Avenger movie I’ve always dreamt of? Consider it
Sorry, but no [sad face]
Do you read Hickman’s fantastic four? If so what is your view on it?
Yes. I like almost everything Hickman does.
James, about how many questions per day do you get regarding Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and your favorite hero being involved?
Maybe 50?
Anymore video game stuff lined up??
No, too busy with movies right now
Vin Diesel recorded the “I am Groot” line in five different languages. Which one, besides English, is your favorite out of them?
Mandarin.
What is your favorite tv show right now?
Black Sails, Better Call Saul – cannot wait for Game of Thrones!!!
I heard that Livin’ Thing by ELO was almost a part of the Awesome Mix Vol 1 but got cut. Is it likely to show up in GOTG2? Any other bands/songs you’d (ideally) want for it that you can reveal at this point?
I consider this part of the plot of GotG2.
What Marvel or DC movies are you most excited to see, aside from GOTG?
Ant-Man
Do you u currently read comics and if so, whats ur favorite ongoing series?
Silver Surfer.
Did marvel choose Howard the duck or did you?
I did.
Hi James. Who were your favourite writers/books as a kid?
Stan Lee!
Are you interested in directing either or both Avengers: Infinity War movies?
b) Can I come live with you?
Nope and nope.
Also, are you able to confirm or deny that Loki’s scepter is an Infinity Stone?
I am
Is there going to be a meet between GotG and the Avengers?
Perhaps someday at some point in time, perhaps not.
Also, I dunno if you’ve answered this one before or even if you’d want to, but what’s with the shot of Gamora with her bare back in the Guardians trailer(s)? Is this a deleted scene or something you shot just for the ads?
I mean no offense, I’m just trying to understand how these things work.
It was a deleted scene. It happened during the Livin Thing montage. Quill caught her getting dressed and gave her a smarmy look and she sneered and closed the door on him.
Do you think Spider-Gwen will get a feature film??
I think that’s extremely unlikely. But so was Groot being one of the most popular comics characters ever, so who knows.
Would you like to direct an horror/fantastic movie and present it to the BIFFF again ? We miss you here in Brussels.
How about Guardians 2?
Do you read comics? What’s your go to series?
Yes, many. Over the years, Daredevil has probably been the most consistently good.
What marvel movie are you most excited for this year?
I think people are going to be really surprised by Ant Man. But I’ve already seen AoU.
Scooby-Doo 3?
Nope.
Any chance of another Slither style horror movie?
Perhaps someday.
So are there any other actors from Tromeo and Juliet you plan to have in any future projects?
Yes
Next non marvel project?
Producing a movie in a couple months. You’ll hear more soon.
I read that your brother Sean did the stood-in for Thanos during Guardians with Josh Brolin doing the voice/motion capture… was it too much makeup/wardrobe for a single human being or Brolin couldn’t make it into the set?
Sean just read the lines of Thanos when we shot it, that’s all. We didn’t motion reference him like we did with Rocket. I don’t think Josh was even hired yet.
If you could adapt any video game into a movie, which would you do, and why?
It would have been Hitman.
Have you read Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe and how do you think the guardians would do againts Deadpool?
He’d be dead in four seconds.
Have you ever considered doing a sequel to Slither or Super?
Slither, yes, Super, not really.
What do you think of the character Squirrel Girl and do you think she could get her own show/cartoon/movie?
I love her so much. I’d love to do a Squirrel Girl movie.
Do you and Sean work together a lot ? In a dream world what would your next project with your brother be? I love you both!
We’ve made at least three movies and video game and a web series together. My next project with him will be GotG2.
If you could do ANY other comic book movie, what would you choose?
We3
How long does it take for Groot to grow back? Lol
You’ll find out.
How much of the soundtrack for Guardians did you choose and do you wanna give us a song from part 2?
I chose every single song solely, with no input from anyone else, and no.
What future Marvel movie are you most looking forward to?
I’m dying to see Ant-Man.
Will we see more of Nebula in GOTG 2?
WHAT DID I SAY UP TOP? Go sit in the corner.
Dream project or something you’ve always wanted to do, but aren’t able to cause of rights or feasibility, ect?
Maybe We3.
How is it directing your brother? Does he try to get away with more?
Hell no, he’s the easiest of all my actors to work with, the most professional and the most prepared. He earned the act of the other actors on Guardians and they all love him – just read all the great things Zoe and Dave has said about him.
whats your thoughts on Spider-man now in the MCU?
would you helm Avengers 3 if Joss didnt want to/couldn’t?
It doesn’t really interest me, no, and I think Joss has already publicly said that’s not what he wants to do, yes?
What other projects would you like to work on other than GOTG? Could you see yourself doing something along the lines of a biopic?
I usually hate biopics unless they just take a small section – a single story – from a person’s life. I have another big movie I want to do outside Marvel, but it might be a while.
What’s up Gunn! What was your first reaction when you found out you would direct GotG and how did you feel when the fans ended up loving it even though it was a “risky” movie?
I felt like a girl winning American Idol with confetti coming down around me when I found out I got the gig. I was very happy that people loved the movie as much as I did.
Massive fan of your film Super….. Love it! My question is do you think we will see a sequel?
Nope.
What’s your favourite track off of the awesome mix Vol. 1?
Right now, Come and Get Your Love.
Will you be coming back to DragonCon?
Maybe. I’m gonna try. Because we’re filming in Atlanta, I hope it works out for my schedule.
If there was one superhero in the entire universe you could make a movie franchise for whom would you want it to be?
Rocket. Done.
Are you excited to see age of ultron?
Already have seen it. (smiles)
Did Marvel Comics gave you creative freedom for GOG?
Yes. And even more on GotG2. We have a really great relationship where they let me go and do my thing, and I truly listen to their notes and ideas. I’ve never been told to put in any character or plot element at all. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve read stuff on the Internet from people who think they understand how Marvel works, when they don’t at all. When they trust you – and I think I’ve earned their trust over the past few years – they give you a wide berth. I truly love them and love working with them. Like a good marriage, we just fit.
how would you rate vin diesel’s abilities as an actor?
He’s amazing.
Do you think guardians would have worked as a film 30 years ago using star wars style cg and henson puppets?
No, for certain not. The only time the tone of Guardians would work was now. I don’t think it would have worked even five years ago, even if the VFX were the same.
Are you a WWE fan? Just curious if you were familiar with Dave’s work there before he was cast in Guardians.
I had no idea who Dave was when he auditioned – I only knew he was amazing.
How would you compare making Slither and Super to Guardians of The Galaxy? I’m pretty intrigued by your transition from diy indie films to a massive block buster space opera.
Plus, how do you script? Like do you make it up as you go along? shuffle Index cards with plot details?
I find the process pretty much the same. You envision it all and make it. Most of it is drawing boxes and composing shots so that they work well as an overall story. I usually write out a very, very intricate treatment first – I get the story exactly as I want it every step of the way and try to fix all the plot problems (which are the hardest for me) at that stage. That will be like a sixty page treatment and will include every beat in the movie. Then I script. I’m always open to changes if they come along, and they will.
DId GotG start with I’m Not in Love because there’s the part in the song that says “Big boys don’t cry” and that’s why Peter was listening to that song in the beginning of the movie?
I’m Not in Love is a song about a person who clearly loves but is trying to deny it. That’s what Peter is doing in that moment.
Who would you like to see play Spider-man?
No idea.
I want to go out but I’m wasted an it’s nearly 9pm. Any advice? What would Star Lord do?
He probably wouldn’t be wasted. He’s not a big drinker.
Was the scene at the casino for rocket Racoon hard to get right? Because it’s so well balanced
It was hard to get right because the scenes around it were so hard. It itself came together fairly easily.
who of the five core guardians did you NOT personally cast?
I cast every single role in the movie personally.
favourite marvel movie apart from GOTG
Iron Man.
Futur projects that you are working on (not Marvels) that you plan to reveal this year
I’m producing a movie I’ve written, which we just hired a director on. Look forward to news soon. Other than that, all GotG2 all the time.
If you could’ve directed any other of the superhero movies, which would you have chosen?
Well I tried to direct Hit Monkey before Gotg2. Does that count.
What was your favorite part about the film
Drax petting Rocket
I know you’ve said that Howard the Duck was just a joke you put into the end credits, but given the response, if Marvel was interested would you do a new Howard the Duck movie?
No, probably not. A movie is two years of my life or more. I would like to make a Howard movie – enough to take up that much of my life? I have to have it in every fiber of my being to do it.
Would you ever direct a horror movie, a musical or a Star Wars movie?
Horror movie maybe, musical for sure, Star Wars film probably not
After watching GoTG Behind the Scenes, I can see you like video games a lot, which ones are your personal favorite?
Knighs of the Old Republic!
Are there going to be any major crew changes to Guardians 2 or are you sticking with the same team?
Major crew changes
Will you ever plan working with Nathan Fillion in a lead role again?
Yep.
Who was your favorite character in GotG to write for?
Rocket and Groot
Will Von Spears rock another cameo in GOTG2?
Maybe
Favorite childhood superhero?
Spider-Man and Batman probably.
Favorite female superhero?
Tricky.
If you could make an R rated film set in the Marvel Universe, which characters would it be about…?
Maybe. Maybe Moon Knight. I don’t know how much it appeals to me to make an R rated Marvel film right now. So many people who wanted to see it wouldn’t be able, and that would make me sad.
Hi james, searching for the answer to which got you started. Star trek or star wars?
Wars.
Favorite DC character?
Batman
After a couple cult hits (and faves of mine) how has your life changed after directing a film that made 3/4 of a billion dollars?
Not really. I do the same stuff. People treat me slightly differently, but I’m surrounded by all the same friends and family I was beforehand.
Any info on the film you want to make after GOTG2?
I have two choices – not sure which one I’ll choose yet.
How did you chose the soundtrack for GOTG?
Instinct, what I personally liked, and what best told the story I was trying to tell.
How was it having Lloyd Kaufman in Guardians? Also how big of a response did that get?
People recognize him all the time. He’s the closest thing I have to a father outside of a father, so I always love hanging out with him. It was fun having him on set.
Which upcoming film are you most looking forward to?
STAR WARS by 1000. Mostly because I’ve already seen Age of Ultron.
If you could direct a movie about a DC character, who would be and why?
Shazam. I like the “Big” aspect of it.
Describe Joss in one sentence??
He always looks like he just finished a marathon seconds ago, and I’ve known the man for fifteen years.
What’s the plot and who will be in Guardians of the Galaxy 3?
Spider-Ham, Popeye, and Skeletor will by the guardians.
Where can fan mail be sent? When does GOTG filming plan to start?
I don’t have a public mailing address because the Internet
Okay, thanks for all the questions, guys. Sorry if I didn’t get to yours. This was the break my brain needed. Now back to writing. Have a great day.
