© 2026 ABC News

\"PHOTO:
Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: James Gunn attends the "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2" red carpet on April 10, 2017, in Tokyo.
>

\"We were all shocked by his abrupt firing last week and have intentionally waited these ten days to respond in order to think, pray, listen, and discuss,\" it continued.

The letter went on to request that Gunn be \"reinstated\" as director of the upcoming film.

If you please, read the statement written and signed by The Guardians of the Galaxy cast in support of James Gunn’s reinstatement as director of GOTG Volume 3.

A post shared by Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) on Jul 30, 2018 at 9:41am PDT

While the cast said they are \"not here to defend his [past] jokes,\" they do support the man who made the first two \"Guardians\" movies a reality.

They also noted, \"We believe the theme of redemption has never been more relevant than now.\"

\"His apology, now and from years ago when first addressing these remarks, we believe is from the heart, a heart we all know, trust and love,\" the letter added. \"There is little due process in the court of public opinion.\"

\"PHOTO:
Marvel Studios
PHOTO: Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Michael Rooker, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, and Pom Klementieff pose for a cast photo for "Guardians of the Galaxy."
>

The cast said they hope this can be a lesson about \"the enormous responsibility we have to ourselves and each other regarding the use of our written words when we etch them in digital stone.\"

At the time of his firing on July 20, Gunn released a statement to ABC News, saying, \"My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. 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.\"

He added, \"Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.\"

5. Anyway, that’s the completely honest truth: I used to make a lot of offensive jokes. I don’t anymore. I don’t blame my past self for this, but I like myself more and feel like a more full human being and creator today. Love you to you all.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 20, 2018

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Marvel Studios.

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