Marvel is big on planning out their movies years and years in advance, and so far their Phase model has worked pretty well for them. It’s a good way for directors and screenwriters to plan out how writing and casting and shooting their movies is going to work, and a good way for Marvel to snatch up the prime opening days for all their blockbusters. James Gunn, who just announced he’d be back for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, says that movie will pave the way for a decade of more Marvel movies to come.

First off, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige praised Gunn’s work on the first two Guardians movies, and told The Hollywood Reporter that he’ll probably entrust him with oversight duties on more stories after the Guardians trilogy is over.

I think James in particular has an amazing connection with these characters and with this cosmic world. So he, I think, could easily oversee additional stories beyond Vol. 3. And I think has them and just continues to come up with them, which is cool. All of our core writers and filmmakers know what we are doing in other places and help give input on the various projects.

Gunn seems to agree, and told the Toronto Sun that he has big plans for Sylvester Stallone in the franchise, and his next movie, at least, will lead into a bunch of the Marvel movies that come after it.

I will be helping to plant the seeds that will lead to the next decade. I’m helping to decide what projects we’ll be pursuing outside of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3… and what the next cosmic characters we will focus on.

We also know that Adam Warlock will be a character in Guardians 3, which is a pretty big deal if you know how he connects to the Infinity War saga. And even if he doesn’t end up in those movies, Warlock’s introduction will have repercussions throughout the MCU. Marvel and the Guardians have some big plans for the rest of the universe.

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