Friday, June 20, 2025

James Gunn Refused to Include Thor in Guardians 3—Says He Didn’t Understand the Character Enough to Write Him

James Gunn refused to include Thor in Guardians 3, openly resisting Marvel Studios’ expectation that the god of thunder would join the Guardians of the Galaxy after Avengers: Endgame. Speaking recently, Gunn explained that he could not justify Thor’s presence as he felt unprepared to authentically write the character into his highly acclaimed franchise, drawing a clear boundary despite pressures from MCU’s connected universe.

Gunn Pushes Back Against MCU’s Timeline Integration

James Gunn, the director responsible for the distinct personality of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, confronted the studio after noticing Thor’s appearance alongside the Guardians in the post-credit sequence of Avengers: Endgame. He raised concerns with Marvel Studios about being forced to feature Thor in Guardians 3, a move that would have disrupted his vision for the movie’s narrative.

“I said in the script notes: ‘I’m not gonna put him in. I don’t want to have Thor in the Guardians. I don’t want to do a movie with Thor,’”

—James Gunn, Director

“I don’t understand the character that much. I love watching his movies and I love Chris Hemsworth as a guy. I don’t understand how to write that character.”

—James Gunn, Director

The Struggle with Forced Story Connections

James Gunn has been candid about his discomfort with setting up future plot points under studio instruction. He referenced his own experience with the Adam Warlock storyline, which he first teased in the post-credits scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This move, at the time, seemed more like meeting studio demands than advancing a story he fully believed in.

“I did not like what I did in ‘Guardians 2’ where we set up Adam Warlock and we set up the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and we set up all this shit that I didn’t necessarily plan on,”

—James Gunn, Director

James Gunn
Image of: James Gunn

“Well, I guess I kind of planned on fulfilling that promise, but you want to be careful about that. The way a post-credits scene works is a punch to the face, like, ‘Oh my God! Look at this.’ At times when you’re using it just solely to set something up, sometimes you’re screwing yourself over. It was not easy to work Adam Warlock into ‘Guardians 3.’”

—James Gunn, Director

Ultimately, Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock did gain a significant role in Guardians 3, but Gunn revealed that weaving the character into the third film was creatively challenging, and went against what he feels post-credit scenes should deliver for fans.

Relief Thanks to Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder

Gunn remarked that the studio’s decision to have Taika Waititi address Thor’s storyline with the Guardians allowed him to proceed with his own creative plan unimpeded. The burden of integrating Thor into the Guardians’ world shifted to Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder, granting Gunn the freedom to start Guardians 3 without Thor and to maintain a consistent focus on his original ensemble.

“They chose to have that ending in editing,”

—James Gunn, Director

“And I didn’t think it was gonna be in there. ‘Endgame’ came out right after I decided to do ‘Guardians’ again. So I didn’t have much say in what was in ‘Endgame,’ and then it came out and then I was like, ‘What the fuck am I gonna do?’ That’s when [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] told me Taika’s gonna do ‘Thor,’ and we’ll have the Guardians in it. I said ‘Thank God!’ … To be completely honest, Thor was never going to be in this movie. Taika took a bullet for me. Because I was not going to have him in. I was just gonna start up and there’s no Thor.”

—James Gunn, Director

The Impacts of Creative Control in the MCU

James Gunn’s resolve to keep Thor out of Guardians 3 reflects the broader tension between individual storytelling and overarching franchise requirements in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gunn’s determination to protect his vision, even when it meant resisting pressures from Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige, has shaped the unique tone of the Guardians films. His experience also offers insight into how studio mandates can force filmmakers into difficult creative positions—ones that may not always serve authentic character development or narrative cohesion.

As the MCU continues to expand and interconnect, Gunn’s stance highlights the importance of directors like Taika Waititi and James Gunn maintaining a distinct voice within the franchise. The decision to let Waititi address Thor’s connection with the Guardians allowed for clearer, more focused storytelling in both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Thor: Love and Thunder, preserving each film’s identity while still serving the broader MCU timeline.

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