James Gunn in talks to direct 'Guardians of the Galaxy' - Polidicks

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Uf2Ft.jpg[/IMG] James Gunn has emerged as Marvel Studios' choice to direct its upcoming space superhero saga [I][B]Guardians of the Galaxy[/B][/I]. Marvel is said to like Gunn's sensibility and his ability to mix comedy elements with action and horror, a quality he shares with [I][B]The Avengers[/B][/I] director Joss Whedon, who, with his exclusive contract with Marvel, is now a major architect of the company's expanding universe. After a lengthy search, sources say that Marvel executives now are talking exclusively with Gunn, whose previous credits include the genre films [B][I]Slither[/I][/B] and [B][I]Super[/I][/B]. The studio is said not to have ruled out others in the running — Peyton Reed ([B][I]Bring It On[/I][/B], [B][I]Yes Man[/I][/B]) and [I][B]Half Nelson[/B][/I] helming team Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden were in the mix, according to sources — in case talks with Gunn's reps do not lead to a deal. [I][B]Guardians of the Galaxy[/B][/I] is the first original title in Marvel’s “Phase 2" of movies, which also includes [B][I]Iron Man 3[/I][/B],[I][B] Captain America: The Winter Soldier[/B][/I] and [B][I]Thor: The Dark World[/I][/B], and an Avengers sequel. Earlier this week a logline made the rounds describing the plot as concerning “a U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants." While there have been several incarnations of the Guardians team in the comics over the years, the movie’s lineup will include Drax the Destroyer, a human resurrected as a green warrior with the sole purpose of killing Thanos (the villain in the Avengers final-scene 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. If a deal comes together, it would mark yet another unconventional director choice for a big Marvel movie. The studio raised eyebrows by handing over [B][I]Iron Man[/I][/B] to a then-untested Jon Favreau, [I][B]Thor[/B][/I] to Kenneth Branagh, who was known for arthouse pics, and The Avengers to TV showrunner Whedon. All the movies became international hits. Guardians would be a major break for Gunn, who is best known for directing the low-budget [I][B]Super[/B][/I] and [I][B]Slither[/B][/I]. [I][B]Super[/B][/I], released in 2010, is an indie action comedy starring Rainn Wilson and Liv Tyler about a schlub who decides to be a superhero despite lacking any skills. [I][B]Slither[/B][/I] is a horror comedy made by Gold Circle Films that starred Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks. Slither only made $7.7 million domestically, though a galactic sum compared to Super’s $322,000 domestic take. [url]http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-gunn-marvel-guardians-of-the-galaxy-363928[/url]

[quote]Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World[/quote] Oh dear god this is going to be AMAZING!

I hope they come up with a better name than [I]Iron Man 3.[/I]

Now I'm starting to get really interested. He's a good director and hopefully the cast does well in this.

Having seen Super and Slither a few times each, I look forward to more of Gunn's work.

[QUOTE=usaokay;37309441]As long Rocket Raccoon is voiced by the same actor in MvC3, then I'll be happy. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hDjttNGgYA[/media][/QUOTE] That voice is pretty cool; it makes him seem like he'd absolutely WRECK Teemo.

It's amazing that characters unknown by the general population such as Rocket Racoon are going to be featured in a movie before Wonder Woman, Aquaman, or any of the DC characters in the JLA see the light of day.