Shocking Twist: Season 2 of Upcoming Marvel Series Breaks the Mold with a New Director!

Highlights

I Am Groot season 2 marks the first time James Gunn won't be involved with the Guardians franchise, as the new season is written and directed by Kirsten Lepore.

Gunn's association with Marvel has been tumultuous, beginning with his dismissal following a controversy surrounding his tweets. However, he swiftly attained triumph with DC and was reinstated to finalize Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Gunn's transition to DC proved to be a wise choice, as he brings ingenuity and a dedication to character growth, which is not always the primary focus for Marvel. His contributions to The Suicide Squad showcased his ability to enhance DC's brand as an artist.

Season 2 of I Am Groot will mark the first instance where James Gunn, the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, will not be involved with the project. Gunn, who is known for his work in horror and Troma films, rose to fame when he introduced the cosmic characters of Guardians of the Galaxy to the world. The franchise warmly embraced these characters, leading to the creation of a television series, I Am Groot, which focused on the adventures of the main character in his baby tree form.

Gunn's entire tenure as the Guardians characters' director has positioned him as the accepted caretaker. However, Disney Plus has announced that I Am Groot season 2 will mark the first addition to the franchise without Gunn's involvement. The press release from Disney reveals that Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige remains the executive producer, but Gunn's name is conspicuously absent. Instead, season 1 director Kirsten Lepore takes the reins, both writing and directing for the new season.

The original director of Guardians of the Galaxy has had a strained relationship with Marvel Studios since directing the first film in 2014. Following the surfacing of controversial tweets from over a decade ago, Disney fired him before he could finish the final installment of the Guardians trilogy. However, Gunn didn't face uncertainty for long, as DC quickly hired him to direct a soft reboot of the Suicide Squad. After facing backlash and reconsideration, Disney brought Gunn back to complete Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which was highly praised. Despite this, Gunn decided to move on from Marvel Studios.

DC recognized that Gunn was the ideal candidate to help fix their creative disparity, as Marvel Studios' competitor was struggling due to a perceived lack of vision. Gunn's work on The Suicide Squad demonstrated that he had the ability to revitalize the brand, which led to him being chosen to lead DC's creative development team. There was no doubt that hiring Gunn was the right decision. After being cast aside by Disney, he chose a brand that appreciated his creativity. Gunn has always been a proponent of creating films centered around compelling characters, which wasn't always embraced at Marvel Studios. He is the exception to the usual Marvel Studios formula, where character development takes precedence over producing a series of similar movies. Gunn is precisely what DC needs to elevate their company.

I Am Groot season 2 will premiere on Disney Plus on September 6, 2023.

Source: Disney Plus