Chris Pratt 'Would Love' James Gunn to Return for a Fourth Guardians Film

Chris Pratt says he would love James Gunn to direct a fourth "Guardians of the Galaxy" film, days after Gunn's departure from DC Studios opened a route back to Marvel. Pratt called the prospect "awesome" in an interview with Moviezine.

The actor did not hedge. "That would be awesome. I love working with James. He's the man," Pratt said when asked about the possibility of making another film. "I haven't had a chance to speak with him since that news came out yesterday…. It's always tough because anytime something like this comes up, it could always become a headline."

He added: "All I'll say is I love James. He directed all three movies, and that's pretty rare… so if he wanted to come back and bring it back, I would love that."

Why did James Gunn leave DC Studios?

DC Studios removed Gunn and his co-chief, Peter Safran, from their positions on Nov. 9. The decision followed David Ellison's Skydance merger in October. Marvel Studios alum Jeremy Latcham was announced as the new president and chief creative officer of DC Studios.

The executive shuffle marks another setback for DC Studios, which has struggled to compete with Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years. Gunn led DC's creative slate after finishing his Marvel run, and his exit now frees him for a possible return to the studio where he built his franchise track record.

What does this change for the Guardians franchise?

For now, nothing is confirmed. But the pieces are in place. Gunn directed all three "Guardians of the Galaxy" films for Marvel. Pratt has starred as Star-Lord across six films:

• "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)
• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
• "Avengers: Infinity War"
• "Avengers: Endgame"
• "Thor: Love and Thunder"
• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3"

The Guardians last appeared on screen in 2023's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," whose end-credits text promised that Star-Lord would return. Pratt has been vocal about his own pitches to bring the character back, and he confirmed in October that the studio has taken "hard action" to make it happen.

Gunn's availability removes the largest obstacle. A director who helmed all three installments of a billion-dollar franchise rarely comes free, and Pratt noted that continuity is "pretty rare" in series filmmaking.

Whether Marvel moves quickly remains the open question. The studio has not announced a fourth Guardians film, and any reunion would depend on Gunn choosing Marvel over other projects after his DC tenure. Still, with a committed star, a returning character and a newly available director, the path from rumor to greenlight has rarely looked shorter.