James Gunn is back, and poised to oversee a marquee franchise.
Warner Bros. has hired the former “Guardians of the Galaxy” director to write ― and possibly direct ― “Suicide Squad 2,” Deadline first reported.
The move comes after rival studio Marvel (owned by Disney) dumped Gunn in July over a series of dated shock-humor tweets. Far-right media figures had surfaced the tweets, which were sent between 2008 and 2011, likely as retribution for Gunn’s outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump.
Disney’s move wasn’t well-received by the Guardians cast, which came together to sign onto a letter asking that Gunn be reinstated.
Gunn apologized for the now-deleted tweets shortly after they were resurfaced, characterizing them as crude, early attempts at humor that focused on the “outrageous and taboo.”
“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative,” Gunn wrote in a statement on Twitter. “I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.”
“Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today,” he added. “Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then.”