While many Canadians were celebrating Victoria Day, a day named after one of the historical British monarchs, other nerdy type Canadians were instead hailing Facebook’s special Guardians of the Galaxy Q & A in the morning and Marvel’s newly released trailer by the afternoon.
In attendance for this event were Director James Gunn, actors Chris Pratt (Peter Quill / Star-Lord), Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer) and Karen Gillan (Nebula).
Two surprises were revealed both hours away before the online session and 20 minutes after live. New guests; Marvel Studios President and Guardians Producer Kevin Feige and the voice of Groot, Vin Diesel, appeared in the session.
James Gunn let fans know what a marvellous time he had on set for Guardians. It appears he has grown close to the cast and crew during filming. That love was shown with typical male humour after Jamie Christopher (Guardians Assistant Director) asked Gunn what it was like to work with a great British crew and a great AD team.
Gunn responded, “Everyone in our British team was incredible except our AD Jamie Christopher who was drunk all the time and I think he might smoke a lot of meth. But besides that everyone was AWESOME!”
Joking aside — much was learned from the Q & A as the guests answered questions.
We have learned that Gunn is contractually obligated to direct sequels but to direct further films would be a pleasure for Gunn more than a chore.
“I believe I am contractually obliged to do that whether I want to or not. But, of course, I’d love it. I love these guys so much – the guys at Marvel and the cast. They’ve become very close friends.”
Rather than looking to future films, Otaku no Culture is more concerned with the current finished project. And James Gunn wouldn’t confirm nor deny the appearance of Guardians characters from the Dan Abnett / Andy Lanning series run or that Guardians would be connected somehow to episodes of Marvel’s television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
But he did reveal a large part of Star-Lord’s origin will be told in this movie, Drax’s and Rocket’s past included.
On the production side of things, when it comes to music, Gunn has ripped a page from Quentin Tarintino’s Reservoir Dogs soundtrack.
Both directors share a love for the music they grew up on. With all this funk and 70’s vibe flowing through the film, one has to wonder if Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry is in the cards. It is already known Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Suede and Spirit In the Sky by Norman Greenbaum are in the film, but did you know that Magic by Pilot was one of the songs that didn’t make the cut? And sorry Canadian fans but there will be no songs by Rush in the movie — Gunn has already confirmed. But maybe he or Marvel will be kind enough to add Pilot’s song to the DVD / Blu-Ray release as bandage for bruised feelings.
For the look of the film, Gunn revisits the influences of his past. He hired science fiction artist Chris Foss to work on the Guardians.
Gunn also cites Producer Chuck Roven who groomed him for developing A-list films while working on the set of Scooby-Doo, and film maker Lloyd Kauffman (who will make a cameo) from his Troma days.
Gunn noted his love of great space epics, science fiction films and westerns, but there are other major influences at play from this director’s past that may surface in Guardians of the Galaxy or has shaped the finished film. Magritte’s Empire of Light paintings, Director Sergio Leone and the comics of Abnett, Lanning and Jim Starlin may all turn up in Guardians.
But where will the cast and crew be after Guardians is over. This director may be contracted for more Guardians films depending on how the box office does. However, he revealed that he would love to direct a ROM Space Knight film. Marvel doesn’t own the rights to ROM but maybe Gunn can make it happen. And as for Dave Bautista, his ideal role for Marvel would be as Bill Everett’s Namor the Sub-Mariner. Bautista has the look to pull off being the sea-king if Avengers 3 goes in that direction, and he has the build to make DC’s Aquaman quake in his scaley suit.
