Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige's recent statement about "Avengers 4" ending the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shook many fans. But "Guardians of the Galaxy" (GOTG) director James Gunn is setting the record straight — the upcoming movie will only be the end of the chapter, not the massively successful and lucrative movie series.
Taking it to his official Twitter account, Gunn clarified to the fans that the end of the story and the end of the universe are not the same.
"Read Kevin Feige's quotes & not the static around them," he said when asked about Feige's recent comment about the fourth "Avengers" installment. "It's the end of one long story & the beginning of another."
1/2 No. Read Kevin Feige’s quotes & not the static around them. It’s the end of one long story & the beginning of another. https://t.co/NA1f0EnQeE
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 16, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">2/2 And one of the films that will kickstart the new story will be #GotGVol3. https://t.co/NA1f0EnQeE
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 16, 2017 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">This echoes his statement from back in August that his Marvel franchise would be pivotal for the future of the MCU. He previously claimed that the "GOTG" series would introduce stories that would "set up the next 10, 20 years of Marvel movies."
Judging by his statement, it seems that Marvel is prepping to expand the cosmic universe. While some movies like "Thor" and "GOTG" deal with life beyond Earth, the majority of the MCU films take place on the planet. It is about time the Earthlings take the back seat.
Then again, these are all just speculations for now. With several more films to come first, there is still a long wait before fans get a clearer picture of MCU's future beyond Phase 4.
"Avengers: Infinity War" hits theaters on May 4, 2018, with "Avengers 4" to follow in 2019. As for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3," Marvel has yet to give an official release date. But it is expected to open in cinemas sometime in 2020.
