Taika Waititi Is Fan Favorite to Replace James Gunn on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’

Umberto Gonzalez

July 21, 2018 at 10:47 PM

Taika Waititi Is Fan Favorite to Replace James Gunn on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’

The day after director James Gunn was dropped from Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise over offensive old tweets, “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has emerged as the fan favorite to replace Gunn on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.”

On Thursday, right wing Twitter personality Mike Cernovich started posting a series of Gunn’s old tweets, which Gunn soon deleted. Online sleuths subsequently dug up dozens of other old tweets, many from between 2008 and 2011.

Gunn, the co-writer and director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the writer-director of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, apologized late Thursday, but the next morning he was fired outright by Disney. Gunn had previously apologized for the tweets in 2012, shortly after he was hired by Disney. And on Friday, he apologized again and said he understood Disney’s decision to fire him.

Also Read: Disney Drops James Gunn From 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Franchise After Offensive Tweets

Gunn’s removal from one of Marvel’s big franchises left many fans angry — including friends like “Guardians” co-star Dave Bautista. But others began thinking ahead to who might replace him, and the name a great number landed on was Waititi’s.

“If Disney doesn’t tap Taika Waititi to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 then they’re doing this whole thing wrong,” tweeted a fan.

“After the James Gunn fallout, I nominate Taika Waititi for Guardians of the Galaxy 3. It would be the best Guardians movie yet,” tweeted another fan.

Also Read: Dave Bautista, Others Defend James Gunn: 'I Am NOT OK With What's Happening'

Another fan added, “Give Guardians of the Galaxy to Taika Waititi so I can get the Korg & Groot team up that I didn’t know I wanted until just now.”

Waititi hasn’t made any public statement about Gunn or calls for him to take over the “Guardians” franchise — Disney did not respond to a request for comment from TheWrap. But that didn’t stop fans from continuing into Saturday night to urge the mouse house to consider the “Ragnarok” director.

Read some of the other calls for Waititi to replace Gunn below.

After the James Gunn fallout, I nominate Taika Waititi for Guardians of the Galaxy 3. It would be the best Guardians movie yet.
— Anthony Bonetti (@abonetti007) July 21, 2018

If Disney doesn’t tap Taika Waititi to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 then they’re doing this whole thing wrong.
— Alissa Petsche (@AlissaPetsche) July 21, 2018

i see people saying that taika waititi should replace james gunn as director of gotg vol 3 and i completely agree, but let’s take it even further and hire back nicole perlman, a woman who put years of research and writing into gotg vol 1 and got almost no credit for it pic.twitter.com/SdsEimGUNg
— emma (@spideytom) July 20, 2018

If James Gunn is fired, can Taika Waititi be the next director of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3?
— Patricia Gómexx (@GianzGmez) July 22, 2018

So…Taika Waititi should direct GotG vol. III. you can’t convince me otherwise
— liz (@bisexualxbucky) July 22, 2018

Taika Waititi better be the one picking up Guardians 3
— Taylor(????????????)Eggers (@SpottyFloppy) July 22, 2018

So we've moved from "This James Gunn sacking is outrageous" to "Hire Taika Waititi or Nicole Perlman to direct Part 3". Man twitter moves fast.
— justanotherfilmnerd (@Anotherfilmnerd) July 22, 2018

i didn’t think about taika waititi saving gotg but omg he can do so much better for the franchise
— daddy dafoe (@DARONMALAKlAN) July 22, 2018

I know it’s not gunna happen but I want Taika Waititi to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 so b a d. Fingers crossed ????????
— ????Marvel.Trash????|Saw amatw! (@Marvel__Trash) July 22, 2018