James Gunn discusses Thor’s exclusion from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, explaining his personal reasons for not including the iconic character in the third installment of the beloved Marvel franchise. This decision came after fans witnessed Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, teaming up with the Guardians in the closing scenes of Avengers: Endgame, prompting speculation about a future collaboration.
Director Shares His Thoughts on Thor’s Potential Involvement
During an interview with EW, James Gunn recounted his reaction to Thor joining the Guardians at the end of Avengers: Endgame. While many Marvel fans were enthusiastic about the prospect of the Asgardians of the Galaxy, Gunn expressed reluctance about including Thor despite having a positive relationship with Chris Hemsworth. Gunn’s primary concern stemmed from his uncertainty about writing for such a well-established character.
“I said in the script notes: ‘I’m not gonna put him in. I don’t want to have Thor in the Guardians. I don’t want to do a movie with Thor,’”
—James Gunn, Writer and Director
“I don’t understand the character that much. I love watching his movies, and I love Chris Hemsworth as a guy. I don’t understand how to write that character.”
—James Gunn, Writer and Director
Brief Team-Up in Thor: Love and Thunder
Although Gunn decided against Thor joining the Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Marvel Studios provided fans with a brief look at their partnership elsewhere. In the introduction to Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor and the Guardians joined forces for a series of missions. The collaboration was short-lived, as Thor departed upon receiving an urgent message from Sif, thus ending the potential for a sustained team-up between the Son of Asgard and the galaxy’s misfit group.
What the Future Holds for Thor and the Guardians
Chris Hemsworth is set to reprise his role as Thor in Avengers: Doomsday, which premieres on December 18, 2026. The fate of the Guardians of the Galaxy remains uncertain, with no confirmation of their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Should any Guardians make future appearances in major crossover events such as Doomsday or Secret Wars, Peter Quill appears to be the lead candidate.
Gunn’s New Direction at DC Studios
Beyond his work with Marvel, James Gunn has shifted his focus to a new role as co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. Gunn is now steering the creation of the DC Universe, which aims to establish a cohesive cinematic world comparable to Marvel’s MCU. The first film in this reimagined universe will be Superman, set for release on July 11.
This story first appeared through reporting by Dan Girolamo for SuperHeroHype.
