HOLSTERED: Disney Severs Ties with James Gunn; Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Up in the Air

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Submitted by RJ Carter on Fri, 07/20/2018 - 14:51

It was a foregone conclusion that seemed to take forever, but the inevitable response has finally come down. Walt Disney Studios, parent company of Marvel Studios, has cut ties with Director James Gunn over a collection of tweets and blog statements that relied on pedophilia as a source of edgy humor.

While Gunn took to Twitter overnight to delete the tweets, critics wondered how Disney could see their way to keeping Gunn on the high-profile Marvel Cinematic Universe project, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, particularly in contrast to the swiftness with which Disney subsidiary, ABC Television, cut ties with Roseanne Barr after a tweet, despite her stratospheric tv ratings.

The answer: they couldn't.

“The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him."

-- Alan Horn, Walt Disney Studios Chairman

The news, coming at the height of the San Diego Comic Con, is sure to rock Hall H, as fans are left to wonder how this will impact the schedule of future MCU films. Gunn had been attached to write and direct GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3.

Gunn is also attached to write the reboot of the STARSKY & HUTCH series for Amazon. No word yet from the Bezos camp as to whether or not they will retain Gunn in this capacity.