Marvel Studios will release 11 new movies over the next five years, but chances have dwindled that its two biggest superhero teams will join forces for one of them.
"Guardians of the Galaxy" director James Gunn argued that his Guardians and the Avengers protect two separate galaxies. While connected in the Marvel universe, each comes with its own set of battles to fight.
As Gunn prepares the "Guardians" sequel, the upcoming Marvel film "Avengers: Age of Ultron" will play little into his decision-making.
"It's trying to make it effect it as little as possible," Gunn recently told Screen Junkies. "We really are separate from 'The Avengers' and I don't think people should assume to many things about the what 'Guardians' play in all this because we have our own galaxy to take care of."
The unusual band of superheroes, led by Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord, completed their first mission together by retrieving one of the five Infinity Stones from the villain Ronan the Accuser. The Infinity Stones have provided one of the few links between all the Marvel films and it may remain that way for the near future.
"We have our own galaxy to save and Earth is the Avengers province and thinking that everything is going to come together in the perfect way is not necessarily the way it's going to happen," Gunn said.
Marvel has linked "Guardians" to its television property "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." on ABC. The serum used to resurrect Agent Phil Coulson after his death in "The Avengers" came from a Kree alien, the same species as Ronan.
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" will premiere on May 1, 2015. "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" will premiere on May 5, 2017.
