James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been generating buzz for some time now, and the latest news only adds to the excitement. Gunn recently took to Twitter to confirm that the third installment in the Guardians franchise will have a long runtime, clocking in at around 149 minutes. However, he also promised that “not a second is wasted” in the film’s extended duration.
The longer runtime is fitting for what is expected to be an emotional and impactful ending to the team’s run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The previous two films in the franchise came in at 122 and 137 minutes, respectively. But with over half a dozen characters for which to complete story arcs, the additional screen time should allow for a more comprehensive and satisfying conclusion to the intergalactic team’s journey.
Gunn’s promise that “not a second is wasted” is also reassuring. This means that every minute of the film will be used to its fullest potential to bring a fitting end to the arcs of each major Guardian. As Gunn noted, this was not only necessary for this film but for the trilogy as a whole.
It’s worth noting that this trend of third films in MCU trilogies being the longest is not new. Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania have also followed this pattern in Phase 4 and Phase 5, respectively. This trend suggests that the filmmakers are willing to take their time to wrap up the storylines in a satisfying and meaningful way.
Perhaps the most exciting news is that test screenings for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 have reportedly been overwhelmingly positive, which bodes well for the final product. This third installment will be the last story ever with this iteration of the Guardians, making it all the more crucial to get it right.
In summary, the extended runtime of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 should only serve to benefit the film, providing enough time to wrap up the story arcs of each character and create a fitting end to the trilogy. Fans of the franchise can look forward to experiencing the full emotional impact of this highly anticipated film when it arrives in theaters on May 5.
