What Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s new 2021 production date means for the franchise

A rumor is going around that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 won’t start production until 2021. What could this mean for the franchise?

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe know that the fate of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 has been up in the air for the past few months. Originally, the film was supposed to start production early next year and was going to be set for a release by May 2020. After Disney fired James Gunn as the director and drama ensued with cast members, the Guardians franchise has faced the uncertainty of whether a third film would be made at all.

Now, it looks like Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is back on Disney’s schedule. While Gunn won’t be returning as director, the film is set to start production in 2021. For fans of the Guardians series, this is certainly better than no production date at all. The date is so far in the future, however, it makes one wonder if Disney really has much interest in the project or not.

The production date news comes by way of Production Weekly, and information from the original source revealed the working title for the film is apparently “Hot Christmas.” There is no official start date, so, this news can still be considered a rumor until more official sources confirm or deny.

If this information is true, Disney might be pushing back the film while they look to find a new director to replace Gunn. If the film does start production in 2021, it likely won’t be released in theaters until 2022.

Marvel is content to move ahead with other films first such as Black Panther 2, which was recently announced to start production late in 2019 or early in 2020. The film will be directed by Ryan Coogler who also directed the first Black Panther.

If Guardians 3 comes out two years after it was originally supposed to, it will likely be a very different film. Phase 4 of the MCU will have begyn, and Guardians 3 may come at the end of that phase. It also makes the fate of the film still up in the air.

Marvel and Disney still need to find a director, so the biggest worry amongst fans is if this film will be made at all. For the sake of us all seeing Groot grow up (again), we hope it does.

What do you think of this news? Are you worried about the movie being made or are you excited that Marvel is focusing on other things?