10 Worst Marvel Movie Decisions
2. Firing James Gunn
Previously known to only the most die hard comic book fans, the Guardians of the Galaxy has become one of the most popular properties in all of the superhero movie genre since 2014, and in no small part thanks to James Gunn.
The director of both 2014 and 2017 Guardians outings brought to the franchise a unique style that has since been emulated by Thor: Ragnarok, and even the marketing for Wonder Woman 1984 to some degree. Not only was Gunn instrumental in the creation of one of the most popular franchises within the MCU, he was also an executive producer on both Infinity War and Endgame.
Needless to say, when he was fired by Disney in 2018, panic set in. A number of ill-advised tweets dug up from the director's past led to the termination of his contract, sending fans into a frenzy. Not only did his cast defend him, Dave Bautista threatened to leave any potential Guardians sequel altogether unless Gunn was rehired.
The question soon became not who would replace James Gunn, but what would replace Guardians of the Galaxy? DC wasted little time getting the director on the phone and literally offering him a job on any property he wanted.
Fortunately, Disney and Marvel soon saw the error of their ways, and whether it was realising the Guardians and the MCU would never be the same without him, or suffering from FOMO after DC picked him up, Gunn was re-hired. Thankfully, Guardians 3 will now definitely be happening, even if we have to wait until after The Suicide Squad to see it.