Marvel Fans Want James Gunn Back After His DC Exit: "Start Drafting the Script for GUARDIAN OF THE GALAXY 4"

James Gunn is leaving DC Studios after four years as co-CEO, and Marvel fans already have an idea of what they want him to do next. With Gunn stepping away from DC alongside Peter Safran, fans are calling for his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically to make Guardians of the Galaxy 4.

The news has sparked plenty of excitement among Marvel fans who would love to see Gunn reunite with the cosmic misfits who helped make him one of Hollywood's most popular superhero filmmakers.

"Kevin Feige, it's time to bring James Gunn back into the fold," wrote one fan on Reddit shortly after the announcement.

Another fan defended Gunn's Marvel work, writing, "The people acting like Gunn is awful and don’t want him returning to Marvel are f*cking crazy. All three Guardians of the Galaxy movies are great, and he was a great second or third unit director to have on hand for the bigger projects. You’d be crazy to not welcome him back. He has still done cosmic Marvel the best when it comes to the movies."

Fans on X were just as enthusiastic, with one offering Gunn a straightforward suggestion: "start drafting the script for Guardians of the Galaxy 4."

Another wondered whether his departure could mean something bigger for the MCU, writing, "James Gunn no longer DC head means Guardians of the Galaxy 4 confirmed at Marvel?" Let's go."

Of course, nothing has been announced about Gunn returning to Marvel or directing another Guardians of the Galaxy movie, but it's easy to understand why fans want him back.

Gunn's history with Marvel goes all the way back to 2012, when he was hired to co-write and direct the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Released in 2014, the film turned a relatively obscure group of Marvel characters into one of the MCU's most beloved teams.

He returned to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and also directed scenes for Doctor Strange. His Marvel career hit a major roadblock in 2018 when Disney fired him over resurfaced social media posts, just as he was preparing to direct the third Guardians movie.

Marvel eventually rehired Gunn in 2019, allowing him to finish the trilogy with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. By that point, however, he had already started building a new relationship with DC.

Gunn wrote and directed The Suicide Squad in 2021 before creating the HBO series Peacemaker. His work eventually led to Warner Bros. appointing him and longtime collaborator Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2022, putting them in charge of rebuilding DC's superhero franchise.

That ambitious plan officially kicked off with Superman in 2025, launching the new DC Universe's Chapter One. But following Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. earlier this year, the studio is making another major leadership change.

Former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham will replace Gunn and Safran on December 1, 2026.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Gunn admitted that he feels relieved about leaving the executive position. He explained that he "disliked the at-times corporate nature of the job" and had "difficulty" with "dividing my time between projects" and his responsibilities as CEO.

While reports suggest Skydance could dismantle Gunn's DCU plans, several projects already in development are expected to continue, including Man of Tomorrow, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and Creature Commandos Season 2.

As for Gunn's future, leaving DC Studios could give him more freedom to focus on filmmaking rather than running an entire superhero studio. Whether that means returning to Marvel is another question.

Still, a fourth Guardians of the Galaxy movie with Gunn directing would certainly get fans excited. He brought a unique combination of humor, heart, and wonderfully strange cosmic adventures to the MCU, and his three Guardians films remain some of Marvel's most entertaining movies.

There's no indication that Marvel Studios or Kevin Feige have approached Gunn about a return, but with the filmmaker preparing for his next chapter, fans are already making their wishes known.

Would you like to see James Gunn return to Marvel for Guardians of the Galaxy 4, or would you rather see him move on to something completely new?