Joss Whedon Ousted From AVENGERS 3?

Whoa… our Great Ginger Deity might be ousted from The Avengers 3. Joss Whedon, who’s already directed Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the 2012 origin flick and 2015’s sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron, often laments the wear and tear the Marvel Universe takes on his life. He certainly doesn’t resent his involvement in the films or television’s Agents of SHIELD, but Whedon’s not shy about his interests in other, less hectic projects.

Well, he might not have to worry much longer. When a few internet sleuths from our friends at Badass Digest asked Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn if he’ll direct Avengers 3, the loudmouth auteur mumbled an uncharacteristic response. Here’s the full scoop:

I have seen James Gunn in social settings and in press settings, and at this moment I saw James Gunn in one way I had never before seen him: speechless. He kind of sat there gobsmacked for a second. And then he said, “It was great seeing you!” as our interview time was up. The next day I talked to Kevin Feige, and I straight up asked him: will James Gunn direct Avengers 3? Feige denied it. That leaves me with one no comment and one denial.

Damn! As much as I deride Joss Whedon for his humor-heavy style, I certainly never wanted him to leave. Thor, Cap, Hulk, and the rest of the gang earned $1.3 billion in Whedon’s first flick, a feat no other comic book film boasts. Even more than I want a dark and dreary Avengers movie (which we might see in Age of Ultron), I want our favorite superheroes to succeed at the box office. Not that I doubt James Gunn, but Joss Whedon is the safe bet!