James Gunn reflected on his tenure as a Marvel filmmaker during a recent interview and revealed that he had “no clue” about one aspect of the MCU. Gunn directed three Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel and eventually became the co-head of the DC Universe (DCU) along with his long-time producing partner Peter Safran.
James Gunn says he ‘never understood’ what Marvel’s Phases were
James Gunn spoke about some of the most iconic movies he has been part of during a new sit-down with GQ. Almost inevitably, his stint at Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy came up.
Gunn disclosed he didn’t know what phases were in the MCU. He said while laughing, “I never understood what any of the phases were in Marvel. I don’t know what any of it means, like, I have no clue what it means. I have no clue what any of that stuff ever meant.”
Notably, Gunn co-wrote and directed Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel, and it came out in 2014, before writing and directing 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He also made 2022’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special for Marvel.
The phases are the groups in which Marvel Studios puts out its projects. The first three phases are called together The Infinity Saga, whereas the following three phases are collectively referred to as The Multiverse Saga. The first Guardian movie was part of Phase 2, while the second and third came out as Phases 3 and 5 projects, respectively.
In the same interview, Gunn also revealed that he wrote the meaning and origin of the Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by “just sitting down for three minutes.”
Gunn’s next feature, Superman, comes out in US theaters this Friday, July 11, 2025. It will be the first cinematic feature in the DCU.
