Disney and Marvel studios fired director James Gunn last year after reading some decades-old tweets of his in which he made fun of rape and child pedophilia. He had since apologized, but the studios concluded that his statements were "indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values."
Months later, it appears they're giving Gunn a second chance. In a reversal of their July announcement, Disney has rehired Gunn and he will be the man behind the camera for the next chapter of "Guardians of the Galaxy." Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. confirmed the news on Friday, noting how Gunn's good behavior seems to have been a factor.
"Why the change of heart?" Fleming Jr. writes. "After the firing, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn met with Gunn on multiple occasions to discuss the situation. Persuaded by Gunn’s public apology and his handling of the situation after, Horn decided to reverse course and reinstate Gunn."
The cast will be thrilled. In the days following Gunn's firing, actors like Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel penned a note defending the director and insisting they knew him to be a man of integrity.
He is, Pratt said, "a good man."
Gunn had already written the script for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," which was going to be used regardless of who directed it. The film is slated for 2020.