Dave Bautista continued the cast’s unified defense of James Gunn, the director of both Guardians of the Galaxy films, on Sunday. When a Twitter user asked Bautista if he plans to remain on Vol. 3 without Gunn attached to the project, the actor who plays Drax said that he will do what he’s "legally obligated to do," even though Guardians without Gunn isn’t really Guardians. Bautista also took a shot at Disney, calling it “pretty nauseating” to work for someone that would "empower a smear campaign by fascists."
After Gunn was removed from the third installment of Guardians in light of old tweets from a decade ago where he made jokes about rape and pedophilia, the cast issued a joint statement supporting the franchise’s writer/director. The cast claimed that the person he has proven to be following his firing is the person they knew him to be all along. "The character he has shown in the wake of his firing is consistent with the man he was every day on set, and his apology, now and from years ago when first addressing these remarks, we believe is from the heart, a heart we all know, trust, and love," the statement reads.
After Gunn created a unique voice and feel to the Guardians franchise, it’s hard to imagine how Vol. 3 can even come to close to replicating those elements without him. Maybe time heals all wounds and Gunn will find his way back at the helm of the project, but then again, the next installment is still slated for a 2020 release.
