Geek-Culture News
Joss Whedon talks Marvel Phase 2 and approves of James Gunn directing Guardians of the Galaxy
Posted 4:21 pm on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 by Narvin Seegoolam
Since the release of Avengers, Joss Whedon has his plate full with the upcoming Marvel Phase 2 (next set of Marvel movies leading up to Avengers 2). Because of his success with The Avengers already grossing $1.5 billion globally, Whedon will be juggling a few different responsibilities. Not only will he be writing and directing Avengers 2, but he will also be producing the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series as well as overseeing the roll out of Phase 2.
In speaking to 24 hours, Whedon had this to say about overseeing Phase 2:
Very talented people are writing and directing these movies, and what I don’t want to be is the guy they dread, who’s going to come in and say” – here, Whedon affects a pompous British accent – “‘Oh, well I have the power to say change this.’ I’m not that.
I like how he’s essentially having a hands-off approach to the writers and directors of each individual film. When asked about Avengers 2, he couldn’t say much but did state:
The creation of the team is not the happy ending. It is the beginning of something that is complex and difficult, and now I get to dig a little deeper. And maybe, while I’m digging, just twist that knife. And that’s exciting for me.
That’s definitely good news for fans as digging deeper might pertain to more personal character conflicts among a larger hero cast facing a powerful enemy. Not only does Whedon plan on getting into the nitty gritty of the characters, but he’s also placing a large trust in the writers and directors of the other Marvel films to help him accomplish his goal.
Whedon did state his trust for James Gunn in a recent interview with MTV. As we know, Gunn will be directing the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy film. Here’s what he had to say about Gunn:
James is what makes me think it will work. I myself was sort of like, ‘Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I’m not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].’ And then they said, ‘Well, we’re thinking about using James Gunn.’ And I said, ‘Oh, then no, you’re fine.’ He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon.
Whedon went on to say:
He has a very twisted take on it, but it all comes from a real love for the material. It’s going to be hard for the humans to keep up. I know he’s going to come from left field and I’m going to go, ‘What?’ And then, ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that?’ And then I’m going to beat him!
Whedon looks like he has a great deal of confidence in Gunn and feels that he will deliver a film that fans will love. We have a bit of time before Phase 2 starts hitting theaters, but here’s the running order: Iron Man 3 on May 3, 2013; Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013; Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014; Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014; Ant-Man TBA 2014 and finally The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015.
