Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been in theaters for practically per week now, bringing James Gunn’s tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a climactic shut. Luckily, Vol. 3 shall be removed from Gunn’s final foray into the superhero style, as he and Peter Safran shall be co-leading DC Studios. The first ten tasks in Gunn and Safran’s slate have already been introduced, together with Superman: Legacy, a reboot of the Man of Steel which shall be written and directed by Gunn himself. Updates surrounding Legacy have been scattered amid the movie coming into pre-production, and it is nonetheless a thriller as to who will even be forged in the movie’s ensemble. Still, after Vol. 3, it is abundantly clear that the movie is in good arms. Spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 lurk under! Only look if you wish to know!
None of the brand new narrative threads in Vol. 3 — Rocket Raccoon’s (Bradley Cooper) tragic backstory of torture by the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), Adam Warlock’s (Will Poulter) long-awaited emergence from his cocoon, and Peter Quill / Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) relationship with the time-displaced Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who does not keep in mind their epic love affair — are lifted straight from the comics. But each second of Vol. 3 nonetheless reveals a profound reverence for the supply materials, suffering from even deeper deep-cut Marvel easter eggs, but additionally an unflinching dedication to who the characters have been on the web page. Gunn has already been extremely efficient with that strategy over at DC, with The Suicide Squad capturing the incredibly-specific power of the John Ostrander-penned Suicide Squad run of the Eighties whereas boasting a roster and a villain who had not crossed paths, and Peacemaker increasing the titular character’s sporadic items of lore right into a weird and deeply-personal character examine.
But Vol. 3‘s strategy — not solely honoring the near-decade of time that the Guardians have been on our screens, however a lot of the bizarre comedian lore that encompass them — solely additional heightened its emotional curler coaster, as a substitute of ever feeling like fan service. If even an oz. of that reverence is utilized to Superman: Legacy and the near-century of lore that may probably be drawn from, the outcome can probably be one thing particular. Nearly everybody, even when they do not notice it, already has some form of preconceived notion about Superman — and as a substitute of subverting it completely as some beforehand have, Gunn has the chance to make use of that to his benefit, whereas nonetheless shocking us alongside the best way.
Circling again to that emotional curler coaster — Vol. 3 was billed, even in the years main as much as its launch, as extremely heart-wrenching. The precise execution of the film delivered in that regard, between the Guardians combating tooth and nail to avoid wasting Rocket from a sudden dying, the unstated trauma of Rocket’s childhood torture, and the profound approach that the group decides to disband. While that may appear a bit extra excessive than no matter Legacy most likely has in retailer, Vol. 3 proves the form of stability and emotional resonance that the movie might very properly have. Sure, Gunn has teased that the movie will spotlight the character’s “humanity”, “kindness” and “compassion”, but it surely’s protected to imagine that’ll contain tugging on some heartstrings. Look no additional than All-Star Superman, which Gunn has repeatedly cited as an affect on Legacy, and which is arguably among the many greatest fashionable, however heartfelt examinations of the character.
At absolutely the least, Vol. 3 is a promising indicator for nevertheless Legacy would possibly strategy Superman’s origin story. We’re already aware of the beats of Krypton’s destruction — outdoors of the mindless murders of Batman’s dad and mom and Spider-Man’s uncle, it may be the superhero tragedy that’s most ubiquitous. But that does not imply that Gunn cannot discover a new, emotional angle to strategy it. Vol. 3 proved that by giving the viewers moments that it was anticipating and dreading, just like the deaths of Rocket’s childhood mates and the group’s choice to half methods, however in a approach that was no much less impactful. The indisputable fact that Vol. 3 was in a position to strike such a particular emotional chord alongside the best way, including moments of true happiness and humor amid the definitive conclusion, is all of the extra of a miracle.
On prime of all of that, Vol. 3 is crammed with aesthetic decisions that might tease what’s in retailer for the look of Superman: Legacy. While Gunn’s superhero movies have all had a definite strategy to costume and set design, electing for detailed sensible results as a lot as doable, there’s positively a way of visible grandiosity with Vol. 3. It’s straightforward to think about the eye to element on the large units of Knowhere and the High Evolutionary’s headquarters being awarded to Krypton or Metropolis. The High Evolutionary’s garb and the Abnett and Lanning-inspired group uniforms from costume designer Judianna Makovsky, who’s already reported to be a part of Legacy, are beautiful. The fluidity of Vol. 3‘s motion sequences involving Adam Warlock additionally should be talked about, as they might be only a style of how Superman’s flight is shot in Legacy. Hell, if Superman’s pet sidekick Krypto the Superdog does seem in Legacy, the Guardians‘ saga’s strategy to Maria Bakalova’s Cosmo the Spacedog is a reasonably robust blueprint.
We’re nonetheless over two years out from the premiere of Superman: Legacy, the primary of a number of blockbusters deliberate in Gunn and Safran’s new DC Universe. Even with none footage, casting decisions, or concrete hints, it is already clear that the movie goes to be important — each in the DCU slate, and in our ever-evolving superhero panorama. But if James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 proves something, his subsequent work on Legacy might be fantastic.
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now taking part in in theaters. Superman: Legacy, in the meantime, shall be launched completely in theaters on July 11, 2025.
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