Release Date Has Not Changed For 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,' Says James Gunn

This year has seen the delay of many films thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is best to be safe, but many people have been wondering when they may see all of the movies that they have been anticipating. It may be a while for things to return to how they were, but people cannot help but speculate. Movies are a form of escapism, and lots of people crave escapism during a crisis.

One of the studios that this has affected by is Marvel Studios. Their slate has shifted because of the pandemic. Earlier this year, Black Widow was pushed from May to November, causing a domino effect for all of the other Marvel films that are intended to be released afterward. When the MCU Phase Four titles were announced, Marvel seemed certain about the dates.

Absent from the announced Phase Four schedule was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which may be part of Phase Five since it is so far out in the production timeline. While we have not received any specific production start date or release date, we know that it is likely intended for a 2023 release. By then, it will have been six years since we the last Guardians of the Galaxy film was released. Of course, we have seen the team in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Still, they are not the main focus of those films, though the team members do have pivotal roles. Naturally, MCU fans have been wondering whether the delays in Marvel Studios’ schedule will effect the production and release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, though we do know that the dates were decided upon when Gunn was rehired in early 2019.

With rumors flying around, a Twitter user going by the handle @JamesGunnNews asked director James Gunn about the matter on Monday, August 4: “I have seen the rumours of a delay with #GotGVol3. I won't be linking to articles from it unless confirmed/denied from @JamesGunn or @Marvel themselves since I prefer not or post gossip on JGN (personal preference). Thanks for understanding!”

Just a couple of hours later, the director answered: “Thanks, friend. I can confirm that the plans for when we're filming #GotGVol3 & when it's being released have not changed at all over the past year & a half or so. Any rumors otherwise are false. I appreciate your caution! ❤️”

It is somewhat interesting that the schedule for the third Guardians of the Galaxy film has not been affected. It is rumored to begin shooting in February 2021. With Gunn currently finishing the DC film The Suicide Squad, this estimate seems as if it may be plausible. If this is indeed the plan, then it seems that Marvel Studios expects production to be feasible by then. It is six months away, but anything can happen within those six months. The schedule for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has not been impacted as of now, but that is not to say that it may not get impacted in the near future. We will just have to wait and see if anything happens that would cause a change in the schedule.

Unless there are further delays, Black Widow is slated for this year. The four films currently scheduled to be released next year are The Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, an untitled follow-up to Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Thor: Love and Thunder. For 2022, there are release dates for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther 2, a Captain Marvel sequel, and potentially two more films.

written by Steven Shinder

Syndicated from Culture Slate