James Gunn Confirmed To Direct Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

James Gunn has announced on his Facebook account that he’ll both rewrite and direct Marvel’s space superhero saga ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ Marvel are said to like Gunn’s ability to mix comedy elements with action and horror, a quality he shares with ‘The Avengers’ director Joss Whedon, who, with his newly signed exclusive contract with Marvel, is now a major architect of the company’s expanding cinematic universe. Gunn’s previous credits include the genre films ‘Slither’ and ‘Super.’ The filmmakers statement about ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ can be read below.

For a month or so there’s been a lot of Internet speculation about my involvement with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Until now I haven’t said anything, because I’m trying to be less expulsive about this project than I am about the rest of my life. But last night I got the go-ahead from Kevin Feige to let you all know that, yes, indeed, I am rewriting and directing Guardians of the Galaxy. As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited. I am also incredibly grateful to the fans and the press for all their words of encouragement and support regarding my involvement with this project since the news first leaked. Thanks – you have, honestly, touched and overwhelmed me. And that’s it for now. Other than the occasional photos of my dog and cat here on Facebook, I’ll talk to you again in August 2014 when Guardians is released!

First officially announced at Comic-Con a few weeks back, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is the first original title in Marvel’s “Phase 2″ of movies, which also includes next summers ‘Iron Man 3,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ presumably hopefully Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man,’ and Joss Whedon’s tentatively titled ‘The Avengers 2.’  ’Guardians of the Galaxy’ has been scheduled for a August 1st, 2014 release date, the team for that film will include Drax the Destroyer, a human resurrected as a green warrior with the sole purpose of killing Thanos (the villain in ‘The Avengers mid-credits tease); Groot, a giant tree-man; Star-Lord, a gun-toting half-human/half-alien intergalactic vigilante; Rocket Raccoon, a genetically engineered animal with a knack for guns and explosives; and Gamora, the last survivor of her species who was saved by Thanos to be his assassin but now battles him.