It’s going on two weeks since Disney severed ties with James Gunn and still, fans continue to bang the drum in support of the ousted Guardians of the Galaxy director.
As a matter of fact, it’s got to the point that ‘#RehireJamesGunn’ is trending all across social media, as aggrieved viewers petition Disney to backpedal and bring Gunn back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Recent reports have even gone so far as to suggest that the Mouse House is actively drawing up plans to make that happen, while sources close to Variety indicate that there is now a “growing feeling” that said U-turn, however implausible, is about to occur after all.
This is by no means a sure-thing – at least not yet – as a company of Disney’s size and stature will no doubt spend time deliberating over the situation… for better or worse. That has in no way quelled the support for James Gunn online though, as a number of fans have publicly backed the shunned filmmaker via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/UmarHSoaries/status/1023524906477207552
Wait wait wait so Chris Hardwick is reinstated as Talking Dead host despite many people who know him stating they believe the allegations but James Gunn, whose friends and family have rallied behind him (and who did not sexually abuse anyone) is still fired? #RehireJamesGunn
— stort little (@stortlittle) July 25, 2018
And let’s not forget – the clock is ticking. If Disney sticks to its guns, it’ll need to move quickly in order to appoint Gunn’s successor, as he/she will likely spend time rewriting – or at the very least polishing – the screenplay before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 goes before the cameras early next year.
Suffice it to say, a lot of decisions need to be made, and this ongoing uncertainty has only amplified the amount of support pouring out for James Gunn – from fans and actors alike.
Last year @JamesGunn stopped his security escort to talk to my SO's nephew in a Star-Lord costume. Unscripted magnanimity. The suggestion that some off-handed dark humor means he is a pedophile is politically motivated character assassination. @Disney #RehireJamesGunn #RehireGunn pic.twitter.com/jIETcdgR0j
— Christopher Paredes (@Gredival) July 24, 2018
Damn. @Disney, @MarvelStudios, @DisneyPixar, do the right thing here – this whole mess looks GODAWFUL for you. You look like the villain, and they're handing you the opportunity to be the hero.#RehireJamesGunn https://t.co/JwQLdF2l3x
— Bob Chipman 😁 bobchipman.bsky.social (@the_moviebob) July 30, 2018
How badass would it be if Dave Bautista marched into Marvel Studios, kicked Kevin Feige's door down, grabbed him by the lapels and said in a calm, reasonable voice, "If you don't #RehireJamesGunn, don't bother un-dissolving Drax."
— Doctor Doomscroll (@tonygoldmark) July 26, 2018
There’s a growing momentum behind the ‘#RehireJamesGunn’ movement, that much we know, but only time will tell if this makes much of a difference to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the director’s MCU fate.