In July 2018, Disney made the controversial decision to fire writer/director James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2”) over old, offensive tweets that had resurfaced online. However, in a shocking yet remarkable turn of events, Disney announced that Gunn was officially reinstated as director of “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3,” causing comic book fans everywhere to go into a state of shock followed by gleeful tweeting regarding the move.
Deadline was the first to report the news on March 15, 2019, followed by confirmations from The Hollywood Reporter, Polygon and even Gunn himself. As previously stated, Walt Disney Studios executive Alan Horn fired Gunn around the time of last summer’s San Diego Comic Con when a series of tweets emerged containing jokes regarding pedophilia and rape going back as far as 2009.
Horn’s decision was made without consulting Disney CEO Bob Iger or Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, adding another layer upon the already-building mountain of controversy and divisiveness among film fans alike. One side’s position was that these tweets were indefensible and that Gunn should be punished for making them and not simply continue to work as if nothing happened.
The other side’s position was that these tweets were 10 years old and had been public on Twitter for the 10 years. Gunn even stated he had already apologized for the tweets, and society and Disney should both forgive him and move on. This debate raged online for weeks following the firing of Gunn. More fuel was added to the fire when the entire cast of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series signed an open letter asking Disney to rehire Gunn. Dave Bautista (“Avengers: Infinity War”) specifically had been an outspoken supporter of Gunn, even claiming that he no longer wished to work for the company without Gunn.
On top of all that, online petitions were signed, Marvel announced that it planned to use Gunn’s script after all, and the film was put on hold. The situation was a giant mess for all parties involved. Disney was criticized for rushing to judgment and caving into a small population of online trolls while Gunn switched teams to Warner Bros. Studios to write and direct the reboot of Suicide Squad titled “The Suicide Squad.”
However, what fans did not realize was that, in the fall of 2018, Disney and Gunn quietly met and began making a deal. According to Screenrant, Horn was persuaded by Gunn’s apology as well as his handling of the entire situation – the firing and presumably not bad-talking Disney on social media. Apparently, the decision to rehire Gunn was made several months ago, having just been made public now. After getting rehired, Gunn issued a statement on Twitter. “I am tremendously grateful to every person out there who has supported me over the past few months,” Gunn stated. “I am always learning and will continue to work at being the best human being I can be. I deeply appreciate Disney’s decision and I am excited to continue making films that investigate the ties of love that bind us all.”
What is truly commendable about Gunn is how he never deleted the offensive tweets or tried to hide from them. He carried the weight of his mistakes with him, owning up to his actions and never placing the blame on anyone but himself. Furthermore, no evidence ever emerged of Gunn partaking in the perverted actions he tastelessly joked about. Even after the initial decision to fire him was made, Gunn sent out a public apology on Twitter.
“I have regretted them for many years since,” Gunn wrote. “Not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.”
The decision of rehiring Gunn is sure to spark outrage among the community of online trolls, hellbent on destroying people’s careers over past mistakes. However, Marvel, Disney and Gunn taught not only Hollywood but also society as a whole a message in all of this: forgiveness is real. Nobody is perfect, and everyone has a mountain of mistakes brooding over them. Choosing to own up to one’s mistakes, trying to learn and grow from them as Gunn has and never making excuses or passing the blame around is what everyone in society should strive for. On the opposite end, acknowledging that no one is perfect, recognizing the sincerity of an apology or attempt at bettering oneself, offering second chances and not simply agreeing with the largest crowd is what anyone on the outside looking in should strive for as well.
To top it all off, Gunn has stated he will in fact direct both “The Suicide Squad,” starring Idris Elba, set for an Aug. 6, 2021 release date, and “Guardians 3” right after. So, just for today, even Marvel and DC fans can put down their pitchforks.
Image from Looper via YouTube
