Skip to main content

James Gunn Announces Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Has Officially Begun Shooting

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Marvel

It’ll be another year and a half before it arrives, but on Monday, Nov. 8, director James Gunn posted a tweet confirming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has officially begun filming.

“It’s been a strange & long & at times challenging journey to get here, but the obstacles along the way have only made this moment more blissful. Back on set with my Guardians family for the first day of shooting,” Gunn wrote.

Gunn, who directed the first two Guardians Of The Galaxy films, shared an on-set Polaroid from the first day of shooting. Along with veterans Dave Bautista (Drax), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Karen Gillan (Nebula), and Zoe Saldana (Gamora), the photo shows newcomers Will Poulter, who is set to play Adam Warlock, and Chukwudi Iwuji in an unannounced and secret role. 

Helming Guardians Vol. 3 completes an unexpected rebound for Gunn. In July 2018, the director was removed from leading the third installment after controversial tweets dating back to 2008 were unearthed. Gunn posted attempts at satire that amounted at the least to unfunny and disturbing references to rape and pedophilia. According to Fox News, the reveal was to “knock him down a few pegs” because Gunn was an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. In March 2019, however, Gunn was reinstated after meeting with Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn on multiple occasions. Horn was apparently satisfied with his remorse in private meetings, a public apology, and subsequent handling of the situation.

Gunn tweeted that after working with Iwuji in the D.C. Comics spinoff, Peacemaker, he’s cast the actor in “the role most every big-name actor in Hollywood wanted.” What that role might be is the source of serious speculation.

One candidate is the Silver Surfer, who’s been rumored to have an entire film following the 2019 Disney/Fox merger. With a new Fantastic Four movie confirmed in development, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 could pave the way by introducing Silver Surfer.

Related Guides

Silver Surfer is also the herald of Galactus, a big antagonist rumored to arise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A cosmic entity known for consuming entire planets, Galactus is also associated with the Fantastic Four. Now that the MCU has expanded into its more cosmic side with The Eternals, it might be time to bring Galactus into the mix, setting up as Marvel’s next big villain after Thanos.

One character that Marvel fans have been eager to make an appearance is Beta Ray Bill. Bill is a Korbinite, a race who once inhabited a peaceful planetary empire destroyed by demons. Bill led the survivors in a galactic escape and was discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. after ending up in our solar system. Bill is thus an ally of Marvel heroes, despite a monstrous appearance. There’s been also been hints to Bill’s appearance throughout the MCU — a bust displayed on the Grandmaster’s (Jeff Goldblum) palace in Thor: Ragnarok and the introduction of the Korbinites in Avengers: Endgame. 

Whoever this mystery character might be will reveal a lot about the Guardians Vol. 3 plot. Until the reveal, fans will have to continue to theorize and keep an eye out for hints. For now, they’ll have to be satisfied that the film is in production and that all seems to be satisfactory on set. 

“Day 1 in the can. Honestly could not have started off better. Hit the ground running with a delicate, emotional, funny, wild, complicated scene and everyone absolutely killed,” Pratt posted on Instagram, alongside the same photo. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3  is scheduled to be released on May 5, 2023.

Read More: Marvel’s World-Saving ‘The Eternals’ Emerges in Theaters

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
The best Stephen King movies made from Stephen King books (and where to watch them)
If you're scared of clowns or haunted cars, this isn't the list for you

 

The only thing more thrilling than a Stephen King book is a film adapted from one of his novels. The long-time author is one of the most successful writers of his generation, and his spooky, cinematic settings have served as inspiration for some of Hollywood's most esteemed creatives. The best Stephen King movies often use the source material as a basis for the film, and then the directors put their own twist on the story to pull the audience in even more. From Stanley Kubrick to Rob Reiner, famous filmmakers have operated within their own framework to turn otherwise forgotten Stephen King books into some of the most beloved of the last 40 years. These are the best Stephen King movies made from the best Stephen King books. These pictures range from coming-of-age stories to horrifying science fiction classics.

Read more
Brand Profile: How Dr. Squatch went from a viral social media startup to men’s grooming sensation
How Dr Squatch grew from startup to behemoth
Dr. Squatch bundle

"Most guys don't think about what bar of soap they use when they are washing their body. Let's face it, they're probably still using the soap your mommy bought for her little man. Is that what you want? To smell like mommy's little man?"

The opening of many of the advertisements from Dr. Squatch feels less like a commercial and more like a skit that you would actually stay and pay attention to. It reminds us of 20 years ago when Geico introduced the cavemen and kept us watching commercials instead of taking the opportunity to go to the bathroom. It is a soap made for men, according to them, "men who build things, men who open the pickle jar on the first try, and men who catch foul balls without spilling their beer."

Read more
Laundry Sauce will make you want to ditch your old detergent forever [Sponsored]
Laundry Sauce's luxury scented add-ins will spruce up laundry and leave your clothes smelling divine.
Laundry Sauce detergent pods for divine-scented laundry.

Most laundry detergents come in the same boring scents, the same uninspired packaging, and the same goopy, unpleasant format – seriously, what do they put in these bottles? Take a quick stroll down any detergent aisle, and you’ll see and smell a spring breeze, crisp linen, or intense fresh, whatever that means. They use a lot of the same aromas and just slap different names on the labels, too. Sure, doing laundry is a necessity, but surely there’s a way to make it more fun. There must be something better than an “intense” or “crisp” aroma.

Laundry Sauce is changing the game with its luxury-scented laundry pods. Thanks to a collaboration with world-class perfumers and scent artists – hey, that’s what they call them, not me – Laundry Sauce’s high-performance pods are infused with sophisticated scents. These ultra-concentrated pods transform any laundry day into a sensual experience with scents like Australian Sandalwood and Egyptian Rose.

Read more