After being fired by Disney last year, writer James Gunn has been reinstated as writer-director of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, according to The Guardian.
The 51-year-old film-maker, who had been behind both previous instalments of the Marvel franchise, came under fire when old tweets resurfaced that made light of 9/11, rape and paedophilia.
The Walt Disney Studios chairman, Alan Horn, called Gunn’s behaviour “indefensible” and severed ties with him.
According to Deadline, the decision to rehire him was made months ago after conversations between Disney and Marvel. Horn was reportedly persuaded by Gunn’s public apology and a series of meetings.
“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative,” Gunn said at the time.
“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.”