Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Features

Please, Marvel, don’t make a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4

Joe Allen
By

Now that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has hit theaters, there’s naturally plenty of speculation about whether a fourth movie is in the offing. Given how successful the first three installments have been, it seems only natural that a fourth film would be in the works. After all, Hollywood loves to run with something until everyone is totally exhausted by it.

In the case of the Guardians movies, though, it might make more sense to just let them go. The only other MCU fourquel, Thor: Love and Thunder, was met with critical derision and stifled yawns from the audience, killing whatever goodwill the character had accumulated from the previous movie, Thor: Ragnarok. But that’s just one of many reasons why Marvel should never make a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4.

Recommended Videos

Warning: Spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 below. 

It would invalidate Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ‘s ending

The Guardians step into battle in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

If you’ve seen the third Guardians, you’re likely aware that the movie concludes with the Guardians effectively disbanding to go their separate ways. Peter returns to Earth to see his grandpa, Mantis decides to go off on her own, and Nebula and Drax stay on Knowhere to begin rebuilding it. Rocket and Groot remain Guardians, and they’re joined by Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock and his pet, Blurp (one of the children they saved from the High Evolutionary), Kraglin, and Cosmo the space dog.

If a new Guardians movie were to come out, it would likely follow some version of these characters. That might be fun, but it would also feel a bit like a betrayal. Inside of the MCU, there are very few films or film series that feel personal. James Gunn managed to buck that trend with these Guardians films, making them far more colorful and idiosyncratic than the average Marvel fare. Gunn has already made it clear that he’s done with the Guardians, and the end of his run with these characters should be the end of their story.

Giving the Guardians to someone else would ruin what makes them special

Star-Lord and Gamora talk in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

There are certainly plenty of competent directors in the MCU, but Gunn has such a firm feel on each of these characters that he insisted on writing for them even in movies that he didn’t direct. More than any other characters in this universe, the Guardians are his, which is part of the reason the movies have so little overlap with the rest of the universe. They exist in their own special corner, and they should be allowed to stay there.

As many people have remarked in the aftermath of Guardians Vol. 3, these movies stuck the landing and have formed MCU’s first satisfactory trilogy. Each chapter is fulfilling in its own ways, and the way that it wraps up gives every character a fulfilling ending. Many of these characters will likely be brought back into the MCU at some point or another. That’s just the nature of this universe or, more honestly, show business. The Guardians title, though, should wrap up with this third installment. It’s fine if there’s a solo Star-Lord movie with Chris Pratt or a Disney+ Ravagers series with Sylvester Stallone, but the Guardians as a team should be retired for good.

Marvel needs to learn when to quit

Nebula carries Star-Lord's limp body in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

There’s definitely a fairly high percentage chance that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 will happen. As almost all of Phase 4 indicated, Marvel isn’t exactly in the habit of quitting while it’s ahead. If it does happen, though, those who loved the first three films should remember that, whatever shape it may take, it doesn’t have to undercut what came before it.

Fundamentally, the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are about a group of oddball friends who team up to become better people. That was Gunn’s story, and he got to send it off exactly the way he wanted to. Will we miss Rocket, Star-Lord, and everyone else in the crew? Absolutely. But a thing is not beautiful because it lasts.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters. Also check out DT’s articles on why the Guardians movies never needed the MCU to be successful, 5 reasons why the Guardians of the Galaxy video game is better than Vol. 3, and the best characters in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, ranked.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Joe Allen
Joe Allen
Writer
Joe Allen is a freelance writer based in upstate New York focused on movies and TV.
James Gunn made 600 versions of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy.

Do you love any film enough to watch it 600 times? Because according to The Hollywood Reporter, director James Gunn has created 600 unique versions of his final Marvel movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. However, there's no need to freak out and try to watch every single version. Gunn didn't change any scenes or plot points between them. Instead, this effort was meant to ensure that movie lovers will get to see the film in the best aspect ratio possible in any given theater.

If 600 versions sound like a lot, keep in mind that James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water reportedly had 1,065 versions in theaters all over the world. Gunn's Guardians variations are a record for a Marvel movie, and he apparently played with the way the aspect ratio will change during the movie itself. For example, the first 45 minutes of the movie was shot in a flat 1.85 aspect ratio, while the remaining parts of the film are in a 2.39 ratio. This means that Gunn specifically picked moments in the later part of the movie where the action on-screen will appear to get bigger.

Read more
The 10 most anticipated movies of summer 2023
A composite image of Barbie, Oppenheimer, Mutant Mayhem, The Flash, and Guardians Vol. 3.

The summer movie season always has lots of great flicks to offer, and the summer of 2023 is no exception. From massive franchise blockbusters to the return of studio comedies, cinephiles around the world should be excited about this summer's offerings. The year in movies so far has been quietly impressive, with films like Creed III, John Wick: Chapter 4, Infinity Pool, Rye Lane, Skinamarink, Air, and Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves setting up a promising year in theaters. Now, the summer schedule is looking to keep it rolling.

To celebrate the coming summer movie season, let's take a look at our top 10 most anticipated movies of the season. With only 10 spots available, it's inevitable that some very exciting movies will be left off the list. A few honorable mentions include Blue Beetle, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Gran Turismo, Haunted Mansion, and Fast X.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Read more
The 7 best female characters in the MCU
Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3..

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to turn 15, and it's finally slowing down. However, before taking a much-needed hiatus, it will premiere James Gunn's highly-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the final send-off for everyone's favorite cosmic a-holes. The Guardians movies are among the best MCU projects for many reasons, including their abundance of incredible female characters. From Gamora to Nebula and Mantis, Guardians has some of the most complex and well-defined female figures in the ever-expanding MCU.

It's not like other corners of the MCU don't have great female characters, but it's undeniable that the world's biggest franchise has a problem creating three-dimensional figures, not just female but overall. Luckily, not all is lost, for Marvel has introduced several memorable and layered females throughout its numerous movies and shows. From space warriors to scarlet witches, these characters have considerably elevated the MCU's profile, becoming fan favorites as well as critical darlings.
Peggy Carter

Read more